U.S. consumer sentiment improves in early December

U.S. consumer sentiment rose a bit in early December as consumers evaluated current economic conditions more favorably, the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan index of consumer sentiment showed Friday.

The preliminary reading of the consumer sentiment for December rose to 91.8 from 91.3 in November.

"While the preliminary December reading was largely unchanged from last month, consumers evaluated current economic conditions more favorably and expected future prospects less favorably," said survey director Richard Curtin, adding there is "no indication of a potential break in the prevailing positive trend in sentiment."

"All of the early December gain was recorded among households with incomes in the bottom two-thirds, while the sentiment index among consumers with incomes in the top third declined," said Curtin.

The sub-index of current conditions, reflecting Americans' perceptions of their financial situation and whether they consider it a good time to buy big-ticket items like cars, rose to 107 from 104.3 last month.

The sub-index gauging consumer expectations for six months from now, which more closely projects the direction of consumer spending, decreased to 82 from 82.9 in November. Endit