Weaker expectations about personal finances helped drive U.S. consumer optimism this month to the lowest level since October, University of Michigan preliminary survey data showed Friday. Highlights of Michigan Sentiment (July, preliminary) • Preliminary sentiment index fell to 93.1 (forecast was 95) from 95.1 in June • Expectations measure dropped to 80.2, also the weakest since October, from 83.9 the prior month • Current conditions gauge, which measures Americans’ perceptions of their personal finances, increased to 113.2, matching the highest since July 2005, from 112.5 in the prior month Key Takeaways While 51 ... (full story)