Consumer Sentiment Rises in September

A gauge of U.S. consumer confidence rose in September, suggesting households are feeling fairly good about the economy this fall.

The University of Michigan's final consumer sentiment index registered 91.2 in September, up from the month's preliminary reading of 89.8, the report said Friday. The gauge's final August reading was also 89.8.

Economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal had expected the index to rise slightly to 90.0.

"Confidence edged upward in September due to gains among higher income households, while the sentiment index among households with incomes under $75,000 has remained at exactly the same level for the third consecutive month," said Richard Curtin, the survey's chief economist.

The survey's current conditions index increased to 104.2 from the preliminary reading of 103.5, while the expectations index increased to 82.7 from 81.1.

Write to Ben Leubsdorf at ben.leubsdorf@wsj.com