U.S. Consumer Sentiment Holds Up in Second Half of February

U.S. consumer sentiment remained elevated in the second half of February despite the intensifying coronavirus fears that have battered equity markets this week.

The University of Michigan’s final sentiment index for February was little changed at 101 from an initial reading of 100.9 and the second-highest of the expansion. Economists in a Bloomberg survey called for a slight decline from the preliminary figure. The gauge of current conditions increased from the prior month to 114.8 and the expectations index rose to 92.1, data showed Friday.