U.S. Consumer Sentiment Slips Amid Signs of Slower Growth
13 February 2016 - 03:00AM
Dow Jones News
Consumer confidence drifted lower in February as the economic
outlook deteriorated.
The University of Michigan preliminary consumer sentiment index
for February, released Friday, registered at 90.7, compared with a
final January reading of 92.0.
Economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal had expected the
February index would slide to 91.8.
The index touched 96.1 as recently as June, but signs of slower
economic growth in the U.S. and turmoil abroad have weighed on
confidence. Still, February's measure remained well above the 87.2
reading from September.
"The small early February decline was due to a less favorable
outlook for the economy during the year ahead, while longer-term
prospects for the national economy remained unchanged at favorable
levels," said Richard Curtin, the survey's chief economist.
Write to Jeffrey Sparshott at jeffrey.sparshott@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
February 12, 2016 10:45 ET (15:45 GMT)
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