Consumer Confidence Rises to Three-Month High

Consumer confidence rose in August to the highest level in three months, according to the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment index released Friday.

The final index for the month rose to a reading of 74.3, from 72.3 in July.

A preliminary reading two weeks ago had been 73.6, which economists had forecast would hold, 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.