Confidence mixed, GDP up slightly

NEW YORK — Consumers became a bit more optimistic toward the end of the August but still felt more cautious on the U.S. economy than they did a month ago, according to survey by the University of Michigan.

The university’s index on consumer sentiment for August rose to 95.9, up from its 94.0 reading in a preliminary mid-month survey, but down from the 96.7 reported at the end of July, according to people in the market who have seen the report. The report is released only to subscribers.

The components of the survey of were mixed when compared with the mid-month survey and that taken at the end of July.

The index for consumer expectations rose to 88.2 in August from 84.7 in the mid-month report, but fell from the 91.2 reported for July.

Earlier Friday, the government reported that second quarter gross domestic product rose only 2.8 percent, down from the originally estimated 3.0 percent and much lower than the 4.5 percent reported in the January-March period.