December 9, 2005 11:30 AM, EST

Consumer Sentiment Jumps in December

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.S. consumer sentiment rose in December for a second straight month, according to the University of Michigan’s monthly consumer sentiment index released Friday.

The university’s preliminary December index jumped to 88.7 from an 81.6 reading in November.

The sentiment reading topped economists’ expectations of an 85 reading, Bloomberg reported.

The expectations index, which often foreshadows consumer spending, rose to 77.3 from 69.6 last month.