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Economy in Brief

U.S. Consumer Sentiment Improves Slightly
by Tom Moeller  April 27, 2012

The University of Michigan's Index of Consumer Sentiment for all of April improved to 76.4 versus 75.7 at mid-month and 76.2 in March. The figure compared to expectations for 75.7. The reading of current economic conditions rose from mid-month but fell versus March to 82.9, its lowest since December. The consumer expectation figure held constant at 72.3, its highest since September 2009. During the last ten years there has been a 60% correlation between the level of sentiment and the three-month change in real personal consumption expenditures.

The Reuters/University of Michigan survey data are not seasonally adjusted. The readings are based on telephone interviews with just- over 300 households. Data are in Haver's USECON database. The expectations figure is from Action Economics and is found in Haver's AS1REPNA database.

University of Michigan
(Q1'66 = 100)		 Apr Mid-Apr Mar Feb Apr
Y/Y %		 2011 2010 2009
Consumer Sentiment 76.4 75.7 76.2 75.3 9.5 67.3 71.8 66.3
 Current Economic Conditions 82.9 80.6 86.0 83.0 0.5 79.1 80.9 69.6
 Consumer Expectations 72.3 72.5 69.8 70.3 17.4 59.8 66.0 64.1
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