Consumer Confidence Rises in September

Consumer confidence rose in September, according to the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment index released Friday.

The month’s final index reading rose to 78.3 from 74.3 in August, the survey said. A preliminary gauge two weeks ago put it at 79.2.

Economists had forecast the index would rise to 79, 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 is a good time to buy big-ticket items.