LOS ANGELES, Sept. 13 (UPI) -- Confidence among U.S. consumers lifted off historic lows in September, private research firm TechnoMetrica Market Intelligence said Tuesday.
The firm's IBD/TIPP Economic Optimism Index added 4.1 points from August to September, climbing from 35.8 to 39.9, the firm said.
The index is based on 828 surveys conducted in the second week of the month. The results include a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points, TechnoMetrica said.
September's figure, the firm said, is 4.3 points below the index's 12-month average of 44.2. It is also 4.5 points below the 44.4 reading from December 2007, the month in which the most recent recession began.
The index for consumer economic expectations for the next six months rose 5.2 points in September to 36.9, a 16.4 percent jump. The index for personal financial expectations over the next six months rose 4.8 points to 51.6, a 10.3 percent gain.
The index for confidence in federal policies also rose, adding 2.5 points to 31.3, a gain of 8.7 percent.
