USA Consumer Sentiment At 4-Month High, Posts Significant Gain

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USA Consumer Sentiment: Thomson Reuters / University of Michigan

Consumer sentiment boosted in early September by optimism on jobs

(Reuters) - Consumer sentiment rose to its highest level in four months in September as Americans saw better prospects for the job market and economy.

The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan's final reading on consumer sentiment rose to 78.3 from 74.3 in August, the highest level since May.

Still, it was shy of economists' forecasts for 79, according to a Reuters poll, and gave up some of the advance seen in September's preliminary reading when the index climbed to 79.2.

Consumer expectations improved strongly, rising to 73.5 from 65.1, also the highest since May. More consumers expected the unemployment rate to fall than to rise, while twice as many survey respondents expected economic growth than those that anticipated a downturn.

USA Consumer Sentiment by Month

USA Consumer Sentiment by Year

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