US: Index of Consumer Sentiment eased to 96.8 in August - UoM

"Consumer confidence has remained at a very favorable level, although slipping somewhat from mid-month. The Sentiment Index has been higher during the first eight months of 2017 than in any year since 2000, which was the peak year of the longest expansion in U.S. history," the University of Michigan chief economist Richard Curtin said.

Key highlights:

• Index of Consumer Sentiment eased to 96.8 from 97.6
• Current Economic Conditions dropped to 110.9 from 113.4
• Index of Consumer Expectations rose to 87.7 from 80.5
• Lows in unemployment, inflation, and interest rates, as well as renewed gains in the value of their homes and stock portfolios, pushed personal financial evaluations to near all-time peaks.