Consumer sentiment jumps to highest in five years

[ProSense]

Consumer sentiment jumps to highest in five years

(Reuters) - Consumer sentiment unexpectedly rose in October to its highest level in five years as optimism about the overall economy improved, a survey released on Friday showed.

The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan's preliminary October reading on the overall index on consumer sentiment came in at 83.1, up from 78.3 the month before, marking the highest level since September 2007.

The reading was well above the median forecast for a slight decline to 78 among economists polled by Reuters.

"What changed was how (consumers) evaluated economic conditions," survey director Richard Curtin said in a statement. "Economic conditions during the year ahead were expected to be 'good' by more consumers, and more consumers expected 'good' economic times over the next five years."

- more -

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/12/us-usa-economy-sentiment-idUSBRE89B0U320121012

[Atman]

1. BWAAAA! They're cooking the books again!

[ProSense]

2. .

[Tennessee Gal]

3. Forward!!! nt

[WI_DEM]

4. These better numbers have got to help Obama! or else the people

of this country are really stupid if they want to go back to the policies that got us in trouble in the first place.

[ProSense]

5. US foreclosure filings hit 5-year low in September

US foreclosure filings hit 5-year low in September

By MARCY GORDON

U.S. foreclosure filings dropped to a five-year low in September as fewer homes were on track to be seized by lenders.

It was the second-consecutive monthly decline in filings, although there remains a sharp divergence along state lines, according to a report Thursday by foreclosure listing firm RealtyTrac Inc.

On a national level, overall foreclosure filings last month — including home repossessions — fell 7 percent from August and 16 percent from September 2011. There were 180,427 foreclosure filings reported for September, the fewest since July 2007 in the midst the housing market bust.

The number of homes entering the foreclosure process, so-called foreclosure starts, fell to 87,066 in September, down 12 percent from August and 15 percent from a year earlier. It was the second-straight month of declines following three months of increases, Irvine, Calif.-based RealtyTrac reported.

- more -

http://news.yahoo.com/us-foreclosure-filings-hit-5-low-september-041926101--finance.html

It's a conspiracy.