State's Consumer Confidence Ticks Upward

GAINESVILLE (CBSMiami/NSF) - Floridians are feeling a little better about how the economy is doing.

In September, the state's consumer confidence level reached a post-recession high, according to a University of Florida report. On a scale from two to 150, confidence among Floridians sat at 83, a point higher than in August, and the highest mark since April 2007, according to a release from UF's Survey Research Center in the Bureau of Economic and Business Research.

The small monthly rise was seen across all ages and income levels, in part because gas prices have fallen and because of growth in the perception that now is a good time to buy big-ticket items such as cars and appliances.

"While we are still about 10 points behind where we would like to be at this point in a recovery, confidence among Floridians is heading in the right direction," Chris McCarty, director of the research center, said in a prepared statement.

Similar to how the state's unemployment rate has held relatively steady for most of the year, the consumer confidence mark has wavered most of the year in the high 70s and low 80s.

The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.

RELATED CONTENT: