by Calculated Risk on 12/23/2013 09:55:00 AM

Click on graph for larger image.

The final Reuters / University of Michigan consumer sentiment index for December was at 82.5, up from the November reading of 75.1, and unchanged from the preliminary December reading of 82.5.

This was below the consensus forecast of 83.0. Sentiment has generally been improving following the recession - with plenty of ups and downs - and one big spike down when Congress threatened to "not pay the bills" in 2011.  The decline in October and early November was probably also due to the government shutdown and another threat to "not pay the bills".

As usual sentiment rebounds fairly quickly following event driven declines, and I expect to see sentiment at post-recession highs very soon.