US consumer sentiment fell in December from November but improved in the second half of the month after the capture of Saddam Hussein, market sources said today.
The University of Michigan's final reading of consumer sentiment fell to 92.6 in December from a final reading of 93.7 in November, though it was up from the preliminary December survey reading of 89.6, the sources said, quoting a survey released to subscribers. Economists had forecast 91.0.
Saddam's capture on December 13th triggered a robust rally in the stock market, but retailers including Wal-Mart have warned the holiday season could be on the weak side of their expectations, in part because of bad weather in the Northeast.
