When the Consumer Reports Index reported recently that Americans are feeling significantly better about their personal finances, I could definitely agree. My husband recently found a new job after an uncomfortable stretch of underemployment.

Americans are feeling significantly better about their personal finances, according to the monthly Consumer Reports Index. Consumer sentiment rose 8.8 percent to 54.5, the highest level in more than five years. The broad-based increase crossed all income and education groups; the greatest gain was among consumers in households earning less than $50,000.

Consumers' outlook continues to take a toll on retail spending, according to the Consumer Reports Index, a monthly overall measure of Americans' personal financial health. The index's past-30 day retail measure fell to 9.6 from 9.9 the month before, continuing a decline that started in January.

Consumer sentiment climbed back to positive territory this month, and financial troubles continued a four-month decline, according to the Consumer Reports Index, an overall measure of Americans' personal financial health.

Financial difficulties rose last month for middle-income households, according to the Consumer Reports Index, an overall measure of Americans' personal financial health.

Middle-income Americans pulled back on spending this past holiday season, according to the Consumer Reports Index, an overall measure of Americans' personal financial health.

A weak employment picture hit lower-income households the hardest this month, and the budget impasse in Washington created a drag on consumer outlook among the more affluent, according to the Consumer Reports Index, an overall measure of Americans' personal financial health.

The Consumer Reports Index, an overall measure of Americans' personal financial health, revealed a major decline in the financial difficulties faced by consumers and a rise in consumer sentiment ahead of the election and winter holidays.

Financial woes are deepening for middle- and upper-income households, according to this month's Consumer Reports Index, an overall measure of Americans' personal financial health.

Retail suffered as consumers faced a sharp rise in financial woes and a weak employment outlook, according to the Consumer Reports Index, a measure of Americans' personal financial health, which saw significant drops in consumer sentiment that were reinforced by a sharp jump in personal financial troubles over the past 30 days.

Retailers may be in for disappointing back-to-school sales this year. The Consumer Reports Index, a gauge of consumer financial health, shows that Americans' retail spending declined slightly in the past month. In addition, purchases registered a sharp decline when compared to a year ago.

Americans are upbeat as financial troubles decline and retail recovers from a five-month slide, according to the Consumer Reports Index, a measure of Americans' personal financial health. Supporting the improved consumer mood was a decline in financial difficulties, which reached their lowest level since first measured in April 2009.

More Americans reported losing a job in the past 30 days than reported starting a new job, according to the Consumer Reports Index's employment measure, which dropped back into negative territory this month largely due to the continued decline in the percentage of new job starts.

Retail spending declined for the fourth straight month even as Americans reported improvements in sentiment, employment, stress, and financial difficulties, according to the latest Consumer Reports Index, a monthly gauge of overall consumer financial health.

This month's Consumer Reports Index, a gauge of overall consumer financial health, showed a drop in consumer sentiment, an increase in financial troubles, and a jump in stress levels for consumers despite reports that the economy is showing signs of improvement. In addition, the gap has widened between wealthy and lower-income households.