1.   Still, confidence remains at historically high levels, indicating a fairly sturdy economy, Conference Board officials said.

2.   Still, the present level of confidence remains at historically high levels, indicating a fairly sturdy economy, Conference Board officials said.

3.   The present level of confidence still is historically high, indicating a fairly sturdy economy, Conference Board officials said.

4.   The present level of confidence, though, is relatively high, indicating a fairly sturdy economy, Conference Board officials said.

5.   The present level of consumer confidence still is historically high, indicating a fairly sturdy economy, Conference Board officials said.

6.   The present level of confidence, though, is at historically high levels, indicating a fairly sturdy economy, Conference Board officials said.

7.   This year, the combination of a sturdy economy and a balanced federal budget led many lawmakers to conclude that the political climate for a pay raise was safe.