Dive Brief:

• The University of Michigan final February index on consumer confidence was 95.4, according to a report released Friday — up from an earlier reading for the month, but below January’s healthy index of 98.1.

• Meanwhile, U.S. households increased their holiday spending and continued spending in the New Year, according to estimates of the gross domestic product by the Commerce Department released Friday.

• Real consumer spending rose at a 4.2% annual rate last quarter, the biggest move up since the same time in 2006, according to the Commerce Department report.

Dive Insight:

The January reading from the University of Michigan consumer confidence index had been the healthiest since 2004, but February froze a bit. These reports continue the economy’s tendency for mixed signals and blown expectations, but many economists blame the weather for this one, and not fundamentals.

“It is hard not to attribute the small February decline to the temporary impact of the harsh weather, as declines that occurred in the Northeast and Midwest were triple the average loss, while Southern residents grew more optimistic,” said Michigan’s Survey of Consumers chief economist Richard Curtin.