Consumer Sentiment Highest Since June

Washington, DC, Dec. 9, 2011 -- A measure of consumer sentiment reached 67.7 in the preliminary reading for December -- the highest reading since June -- compared with 64.1 in November, according to the University of Michigan and Thomson Reuters.

Economists had expected a preliminary December reading of 66.1. The sentiment gauge averaged about 87 in the year before the start of the most recent recession.