Consumer confidence improved in August, according to the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment index released Friday.
The preliminary index for the month rose to a reading of 73.6, from 72.3 in July.
Economists had predicted a small change at 72.2, Bloomberg reported.
The survey’s index of current conditions asks Americans if they are better off than they were a year ago and if it's a good time to buy big-ticket items.