by Calculated Risk on 9/12/2014 09:55:00 AM

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The preliminary Reuters / University of Michigan consumer sentiment index for September was at 84.6, up from 82.5 in August.

This was above the consensus forecast of 83.1. Sentiment has generally been improving following the recession - with plenty of ups and downs - and a big spike down when Congress threatened to "not pay the bills" in 2011.