Consumer sentiment improves more than expected to 54.1 in August

October 5th, 2009 Stocks rise as service industry activity improvesNEW YORK — The first growth in the service industry in a year and an upgrade of big banks pulled investors into the stock market after a two-week slide. Major stock indicators rose jumped about 1 percent Monday, including the Dow Jones industrial average, which added 112 points.

September 9th, 2009 SYDNEY - Australia's unemployment rate remained steady in August at 5.8 percent of the workforce despite full-time positions falling by 30,800 and only 3,800 part-time positions created, official figures released Thursday showed. The rate held steady because poor economic conditions led to fewer people looking for jobs.

August 28th, 2009 GM sees US auto sales growing by 2 million in '10NOVI, Mich. — An executive with General Motors said Friday the company sees U.S.

August 28th, 2009 European business, consumer confidence up againLONDON — Business and consumer confidence in the 16-nation euro zone increased again in August, official data showed Friday, suggesting the region is slowly recovering from one of the worst economic downturns in decades. Eurostat, the European Union's statistics agency, said its measure of business sentiment for the euro-zone rose to -2.21 points in August from -2.70 points the previous month.

August 27th, 2009 German consumer outlook up for September, GfK saysFRANKFURT — German consumers' confidence in their economy — Europe's largest — continued to rise as growth and income expectations for September increased from August, a leading survey said Thursday. The Nuremberg-based GfK research group said its forward-looking Consumer Climate Survey rose to 3.7 points for September from 3.4 points the previous month as more people expected an economic recovery.

August 26th, 2009 German business sentiment improves in AugustFRANKFURT — German business confidence improved for a fifth consecutive month in August as the economy showed signs of recovery from its deep downturn, a closely watched survey said Wednesday. The Ifo Business Climate Survey, conducted by the Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, said its reading of German business sentiment rose to 90.5 points in August from 87.4 points in July.

August 25th, 2009 Stock futures point to modestly higher openNEW YORK — Stock futures maintained modest gains Friday after a new report showed consumer spending rose slightly in July, but personal income was flat. Investors might be taking a cue from overseas, where most markets rose.

August 25th, 2009 Summary Box: Consumer sentiment, home prices upWHAT HAPPENED?: Consumer confidence improved more than expected in August, and a nationwide gauge of home prices rose for the first time in three years, a sign the housing sector is stabilizing. WHAT DOES IT MEAN?: Improved consumer sentiment and higher home prices could mean consumers will spend more in the coming months, providing a much-needed boost to the economy.

August 25th, 2009 Consumer sentiment improves; Home prices riseWASHINGTON — Consumer sentiment rose more than expected in August, and home prices in a closely watched index posted their first quarterly increase in three years, more signs that the economy is on the rebound. The New York-based Conference Board says its Consumer Confidence index rose to 54.1 from an upwardly revised 47.4 in July.

August 25th, 2009 Consumer sentiment improves more than expectedWASHINGTON — Consumer sentiment rose more than expected in August and expectations hit the highest level since the recession began, indications that Americans' pessimism about the economy may be lifting. The housing sector also showed signs of life as a national measure of home prices posted its first quarterly increase in three years.

August 24th, 2009 Stocks open higher, investors build on momentumNEW YORK — Investors are building on last week's momentum that sent major indexes to their highest levels of the year, pushing stocks higher in early trading. The moderate advance Monday follows gains in overseas markets.

August 17th, 2009 Homebuilder sentiment index rises in AugustNEW YORK — The National Association of Home Builders said Monday its housing market index rose in August to the highest point in more than a year, as homebuyers hurried to take advantage of a federal tax credit before it expires. The Washington-based trade association said Monday the index rose one point to 18, a level not seen since June 2008.

August 14th, 2009 NEW YORK - Oil prices tumbled nearly 5 percent Friday as US consumer confidence fell unexpectedly in August. Oil's losses came after the Reuters/University of Michigan said that the consumer sentiment index decreased in August, boosting doubts about demand recovery and pressuring oil price to its three-week low of $67.12 a barrel.

August 7th, 2009 Consumers cut debt for 5th straight monthWASHINGTON — Consumers paid down their credit cards and cut other debt in June for the fifth straight month as they rebuild savings battered by the recession. Outstanding U.S.

June 16th, 2009 Survey: Economic sentiment improves in GermanyBERLIN — Economic confidence in Germany, Europe's largest economy, improved for an eighth straight month in June, with a recovery from recession expected to come around the end of the year, a closely watched survey showed Tuesday. The Mannheim-based Center for European Economic Research, known by its German initials ZEW, said its economic sentiment indicator rose by 13.7 points in June, to 44.8 points from 31.1 the previous month.