US consumer sentiment has risen slightly in latest figures but remains close to 28-year lows, as higher food and energy prices and rising unemployment continued to take a toll on the economic outlook of many Americans.

The widely followed University of Michigan index edged up to 56.6 for this month – a whisker above the level of 56.4 in June, which was the worst reading since May 1980. Nevertheless, the survey was relatively strong after most economists predicted a drop to 55.