Consumer Sentiment Holds Steady in February

Ann Arbor, MI, Feb. 14, 2014 -- U.S. consumer sentiment was unchanged in early February, according to the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan preliminary reading for the month.

The preliminary reading stood at 81.2, unchanged from the final reading in January. Analysts expected a February reading of 80.6.

The survey's measure of current economic conditions fell to 94.0 from 96.8 in January, but the consumer expectations gauge rose to a six-month high of 73.0 from 71.2.

"The good news is that confidence proved resilient to recent government reports of weak growth in income and employment," survey director Richard Curtin wrote in a statement.

"The not-so-good news is that the full impact on household budgets from the harsh winter has yet to be registered."