Consumer Sentiment Improves from August

Ann Arbor, MI, Sept. 26, 2008--Consumer sentiment levels improved at the end of September compared with August.

The Reuters/University of Michigan final September consumer confidence index stood at 70.3 from 63.0 in August. In the preliminary report, the September index had stood at 73.1. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires expected the sentiment index to come in at 70.2.

The current conditions index settled at 75.0 in September, from 76.5 in the preliminary report and 71.0 in August. Meanwhile, the expectations index came in at 67.2, from 70.9 in the preliminary report and 57.9 the month before.