The University of Michigan's preliminary December consumer sentiment index reading was 96.8, compared to the final November 98.5 and the preliminary November 97.8, according to market sources.
The expectations index was 84.6, compared to the final November 88.9 and the preliminary November 87.6.
The current conditions index was 115.9, compared to the final November 113.5 and the preliminary November 113.6 and the final October 116.5.
Economists polled by IFR Markets had predicted a 99.0 reading for the main index and 115.5 for current conditions.
The five-year inflation expectation index was 2.5%, compared to 2.4% in November, while the one-year inflation expectation index was 2.8%, compared to 2.5% in November.