U.S. Consumer Sentiment Held Up in July on Brighter Outlook

U.S. consumer sentiment held steady in July nearhistorically elevated levels while expectations improved in thelater part of the month as a strong labor market helped tooffset worries about slower global growth and trade tensions.

The University of Michigan's final sentiment index held at 98.4,matching the preliminary reading and up slightly from 98.2 inJune, data showed Friday. The gauge of expectations improvedslightly to 90.5, the best since September, while the measure ofcurrent conditions eased somewhat to 110.7.