Consumer sentiment unexpectedly climbed in early April to a three-month high as consumer optimism on current economic conditions under President Donald Trump rose to its strongest level since November 2000, a private survey showed.

The University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers said its preliminary April consumer sentiment index rose to 98.0, up from a final March reading of 96.9. Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast a reading of 96.5, Reuters reported.

Key Points

Preliminary sentiment index rose to 98 (forecast was 96.5) from 96.9 in March Current conditions gauge, which measures Americans’ perceptions of their personal finances, increased to 115.2, the highest since November 2000, from 113.2 the prior month Expectations measure improved in April to 86.9 from 86.5

Big Picture

Americans have kept up a solid run of optimism, supported by a labor market that’s still humming and confidence that growth-boosting policies will take shape under the Trump administration. Some