Study Shows Enduring Rise in Consumer Sentiment

Consumer sentiment is on the uptick, at least according to a new index released by ""Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan"":thomsonreuters.com/products.../umichigan_surveys_of_consumers/. During the month of December, U.S. consumers showed a 2.2-point increase in positive economic sentiment, representing the highest recording since June of this year.

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The index's mid-month evaluation of consumers' attitudes rang in at 69.9, and the current figure demonstrates the fourth consecutive month of growth. Additionally, the recent findings are well up from November's overall total, which reflect a rating of 64.1.

The newest data still does not best recordings in June, during which consumer sentiment hit 71.1. However, the company stated in its report that the rising statistics are an important factor for the U.S. as it heads into 2012.

Within the release, the companies behind the index stated, ""The majority of consumers reported that their finances worsened during 2011, and just one-in-four households anticipated that their financial situation would improve in 2012. Only one-in-ten families anticipated an increase in the living standards during 2012. These assessments have been largely unchanged over the past two years.""

Speaking out on the numbers, online resource ""Econday"":www.econoday.com/ pointed out the growth in the country's job market as a possible catalyst behind the elevated findings. The site referenced recent Labor Department statistics on unemployment that showed the lowest level of jobless claims since 2008, and Econday also noted that falling gas prices for the travel-heavy holiday season could've played a role in the consumer sentiment analytics.

To create its survey, the index from Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan looks at around 500 U.S. households each month. The index catalogs data targeting the economic attitudes of individuals and families around the nation.