Consumer sentiment barely higher in August (by Rex Nutting)

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- U.S. consumers remained gloomy in August, despite a drop in retail gasoline prices, according to media reports on the University of Michigan/Reuters consumer sentiment index released Friday. The index rose to 61.7 in early August from 61.2 in July. The index reached a 28-year low in June. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch were expecting the index to rise to 62.0.