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Nationwide's latest Consumer Confidence Index rose by two points last month, jumping to 61 points, suggesting Britons now have a more positive view on the future of the economy and may be more willing to increase their spending.
As a result, it is now 13 points higher than it was during the same time on 2008 and is 19 points up on the start of the year.
Despite this, their opinions on the current economic situation were more downcast, with it being described as "bad" by 72 per cent of respondents.
Martin Gahbauer, chief economist at Nationwide, said the jump in positive sentiment is "no surprise", given that a number of key economic factors "continue to show that we may have reached the bottom of the current recessionary cycle".
Last month's report marked the first time in over a year that homeowners expected the value of their property to rise in the next six months.
