Consumer confidence is at a 13-year high in America

On Friday, the latest consumer sentiment numbers from the University of Michigan released Friday showed that in March confidence rose again, as the index of consumer sentiment rose to 97.6 from a final reading of 96.3 in February.

Though just below readings seen in January and February, March’s preliminary reading indicates consumers haven’t been this consistently confident since early 2004.

“The overall level of consumer sentiment remained quite favorable in early March due to renewed strength in current economic conditions as well as the extraordinary influence of partisanship on economic prospects,” said Richard Curtin, chief economist for the survey.