by Calculated Risk on 7/26/2013 10:01:00 AM

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The final Reuters / University of Michigan consumer sentiment index for July increased to 85.1, up from the June reading of 84.1, and up from the preliminary July reading of 83.9.

This was above the consensus forecast of 84.0 and is the highest since July 2007 (pre-recession). 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.