American consumers’ confidence inched up in the latest week but was still deeply in negative territory due to record high gasoline prices and continued weakness in the housing market, a report showed on Tuesday.

The ABC News Consumer Comfort Index edged up to -43 in the week to June 23, from -44 a week ago, and not far from its record low of -51 reached a month ago. The index ranges from -100 to +100, its 2008 average is -37 and its all-time average -10.