Concerns that consumers won’t help drive a speedy and strong economic recovery escalated yesterday after an influential barometer of confidence fell unexpectedly in September. The Conference Board’s consumer confidence survey indicated that worries about job security seem to be offsetting any enthusiasm about rising home values and stocks.

Americans’ pessimism about the economy appears to be lifting, with consumer expectations for the next six months hitting their most positive point since the recession began. The improvement stems partly from the housing market, as a national gauge of home prices yesterday posted its first quarterly increase in three years. The consumer and housing reports, along with President Barack Obama’s reappointment of Ben Bernanke as Federal Reserve chief, sent the financial markets modestly higher. But economists warned that consumer confidence remains far below levels associated with a healthy economy and might not lead to the increased spending critical for a broad recovery.

Worries about job security offset any enthusiasm about the resumed stock market rally that has helped bolster retirement accounts.

Mounting job losses and other economic realities caught up with Americans in June, pushing down a key barometer of consumer sentiment after a streak of gains built on glimmers of hope. Some economists say the reality check offered by yesterday’s report from the New York-based Conference Board may not augur well for spending in the critical months ahead.

Americans, whose hope for the economy had been rising since March, unexpectedly lost faith this month, pushing down a widely watched barometer.

Hopeful signs that the worst may be over for the economy boosted Americans’ moods in April, sending a closely watched barometer of sentiment to the highest level since November. The New York-based Conference Board said yesterday that its Consumer Confidence Index rose more than 12 points to 39.2, up from a revised 26.9 in March. The reading marks the highest level since November’s 44.7 and well surpasses economists’ expectations for 29.5.