Consumers proved marginally more optimistic than expected through the month of September, as the University of Michigan preliminary report showed an improvent on August lows. The Economic conditions index remained effectively unchanged at 98.3, while the Economic Outlook indicator rose 0.7 points to fall marginally short of June levels. The headline summary remains significantly below the 90.4 reading seen in July, but consumers have not grown more pessimistic following the August tumble.