Consumer-sentiment gauge rises to 82.5 in December

WOW big beat in this number...

• Prior 75.1
• Conditions 97.9 vs 90.0 exp. Prior 88.0
• Expectations 72.7 vs 68.0 exp. Prior 66.8
• 1 year inflation expectations 3.0% vs 2.9% prior
• 5 year 2.8% vs 2.9% prior

 A gauge of consumer sentiment rose this month to the highest level since July, according to Friday reports. The preliminary December reading of the University of Michigan/Thomson Reuters consumer-sentiment index hit 82.5, compared with a final November reading of 75.1. Economists polled by MarketWatch had expected the gauge to hit 76.5 in early December

Sentiment is up Obama's job approval rating down...yup sounds about right don't it?