U.S. consumer sentiment kept flat in early September as better economic prospects were offset by declines in income prospects and buying plans.
The preliminary reading of the consumer sentiment for September was 89.8, the same as the level in August, said the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan index of consumer sentiment on Friday.
"Modest gains in the outlook for the national economy have been offset by small declines in income prospects as well as buying plans," said survey director Richard 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, fell to 103.5 from 107 last month.
The sub-index gauging consumer expectations for six months from now, which more closely projects the direction of consumer spending, increased to 81.1 from 78.7 in August.
"Importantly, all of these changes were relatively minor," said Curtin. "Overall, consumers remain reasonably optimistic about their economic prospects."
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