The University of Michigan's preliminary April consumer sentiment index reading was 72.3, compared to the final March 78.6, the preliminary March 71.8, and the final February 77.6, according to market sources.
The expectations index was 64.2, compared to 70.8 in March, 61.7 earlier in March, and 70.2 in February.
The current conditions index was 84.8, compared to 90.7 in March, 87.5 earlier in March, and 89.0 in February.
Economists polled by Thomson Reuters had predicted a 78.0 reading for the main index, 90.0 for current conditions and 70.0 for expectations.
The five-year inflation expectation index was 2.8%, compared to 2.8% in March, while the one-year inflation expectation index was 3.0%, compared to 3.2% in March.
The University of Michigan index is not released to the press, but only to paying subscribers.
