Consumer Confidence Improves

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

The month’s final index rose to 60.9, from 59.4 in September.

A preliminary reading two weeks ago showed a reading of 57.5.

The final index was higher than economists’ median forecast of a 58 reading, Bloomberg reported.

The index averaged a reading of 89 in the five years leading up to the recession at the end of 2007.