U.S. consumer confidence falls to 5-year low

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. consumer confidence took an unexpectedly sharp fall in March, hitting a five-year low while expectations for the future tumbled to their lowest since January 1974, the Conference Board said on Tuesday.

The Conference Board said its index of consumer sentiment fell in March to 64.5 -- its lowest since March 2003 -- from an upwardly revised 76.4 in February.

The median forecast of economists polled by Reuters was for a reading of 73.5 in March. February's index was originally reported at 75.0.

The Conference Board said its expectations index fell to 47.9 -- its lowest since January 1974 -- from an upwardly revised 58.0 in February.

(Reporting by Burton Frierson; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)