Consumer Sentiment Unchanged in March

March 17, 2006 10:00 AM, EST

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he University of Michigan said its consumer sentiment index remained unchanged at 86.7 in March, Bloomberg reported Friday.

The report said declining home heating costs and an improved labor market boosted perceptions about household finances helped buttress the index, Bloomberg reported.

Economists expected the March report to show the index rising to 88.0, Bloomberg said.

The current conditions index rose to 106.2 in March from 105.6 the previous month, the report said.