Consumer Sentiment Declines in Early March

Ann Arbor, MI, March 15, 2013 — The University of Michigan-Thomson Reuters consumer-sentiment reading fell to a preliminary March reading of 71.8, the lowest level since December 2011.

It was down from a final February reading of 77.6.

Economists had expected a preliminary March reading of 78.

The sentiment measure averaged about 87 in the year before the recession started.