US consumer sentiment fell slightly in January, according to data out Friday, though the decline was not as bad as first expected.

The final reading of the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan consumer confidence index came in at 81.2 in January, down from 82.5 in December.

The figure was revised higher than the initial estimate of 80.4 and analysts' expectations of a change to 81.

While the sub-indices for current conditions and economic expectations were adjusted higher compared with the preliminary readings, they both still showed a decline from December.

"Prospects for either consumers' own personal finances or for the economy as a whole have remained more resistant to improvement, especially longer-term prospects," said survey director Richard Curtin.

"This has prevented recent economic gains from building the type of positive upward momentum that has sparked and sustained increases in consumer optimism and confidence."

BC

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