Consumer Confidence Improves

Consumer confidence rose this month to its highest level in since June, according to the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment index released Wednesday.

The month’s final index rose to 64.1, from 60.9 in October.

A preliminary reading two weeks ago showed a reading of 64.2.

The final index was lower than economists’ median forecast of a 64.5 reading, Bloomberg reported.

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