Consumer sentiment makes headway in December from November dip

Consumer confidence in the US strengthened modestly in December with the University of Michigan's (UoM) preliminary estimate of the Consumer Sentiment Index rising to 70.4, up from 67.4 in November. This print came in above market expectations of 67.1.

Meanwhile, the preliminary estimate of the December Consumer Expectations index also rose to 67.8. Markets had expected the expectations focused index to drop to 62.0 from 63.5 in December. Finally, the Current Conditions Index rose to 74.6, up from 73.6 a month ago and above expectations for a drop to 71.0.