Consumer Sentiment at Nine-Month High

Ann Arbor, MI, April 25, 2014 -- Consumer sentiment rose to its highest level since July in the final April reading.

According to the University of Michigan and Thomson Reuters index, sentiment hit a reading of 84.1, up from a final March level of 80.

The preliminary reading for the month was 82.6.

"Perhaps the more important question is whether consumer confidence will show greater resistance to the backslides that have repeatedly occurred in the past few years," survey director Richard Curtin said in a press release.

"Resilience is dependent on positive long term economic expectations. While near term expectations have improved substantially, longer term expectations for personal finances as well as the overall economy have not improved as much."