Consumer Sentiment Up Sharply in September

Here’s another data point on the remarkable improvement in the American mood that, according to Gallup data reported in this item earlier in the week, has been due almost exclusively to those aligned with one political party. As shown below, the Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment index fell slightly from a mid-month reading of 79.2 to 78.3 in the final September reading, up sharply from 74.3 in August.

Not surprisingly, whether today’s consumer sentiment data was good or bad depends on who’s reporting it and this screenshot of a Google search on the subject should serve as a timely reminder (in the unlikely event that anyone needed one) that this is an election year: