Definition: In this task, a passage will be given and the goal is to identify an event from the passage. An event is defined as a single word representing something that happened, is happening, or may happen. An event can be factual or hypothetical, positive or negative, certain or uncertain. While most events are based on verbs, an event can also be based on a noun (ex. storm, snow, rainfall) or a copula verb (is, was, been, etc.). The event must not be a pronoun or an adjective. For noun events with multiple words, use the last word in the phrase as event.
Input: Passage: "Even though consumer confidence improved after the coup, other negative factors have remained, mainly the oil prices," said Sakkarin Nigamsilpa, an auto analyst at Kasikorn Research Center. "With improving confidence and an expected decrease in interest rates, we expect domestic car sales will begin growing again early next year," he told AFP.

improved