Consumer confidence improved in June for a second month amid better employment conditions and relatively stable stock markets, the government said Friday.

The seasonally adjusted index of sentiment among households made up of two or more people rose 0.9 points to 41.8, the Cabinet Office said. The survey was conducted on June 15 before the financial markets became volatile over the British vote to leave the European Union later in the month.

The government kept intact its basic assessment of the index, saying consumer confidence is "leveling off."

The survey polls consumers on the economic outlook for the next six months. A score below 50 suggests pessimists outnumber optimists.

In the reporting month, all four components of the sentiment index climbed, with consumers' views on employment and readiness to buy new durable goods improving 0.8 points to 43.7 and 1.9 points to 42.1, respectively.

Their views on livelihoods rose 0.7 points to 40.4 and the assessment of income growth expanded 0.3 points to 41.1.

The survey also showed 71.8 percent of households said they expect consumer prices to rise in the year ahead, down 7.1 points from the previous month.