California consumers are more bullish about their economic prospects in the third quarter – but that might not be saying much.

A survey by Chapman University’s A. Gary Anderson Center for Economic Research found that consumer sentiment had risen to 65.1 in the third quarter from 57.6 in the second quarter. But that’s far below the 94.4 reading in the third quarter of 2007 – and below the index level of 100 that reflects a higher percentage of pessimistic than optimistic consumers.

The survey data were compiled from a questionnaire mailed out to 5,000 households throughout the state during the month of August.

Driving the increase was a jump in consumer sentiment about future economic conditions, which rose to 94.4 in the third quarter from 76.3 in the second quarter. This sharp increase indicates consumers expect better economic times a year from now, though the reading is slightly below the 102 level of a year ago.

These findings were in line with the national consumer confidence indices from both the Conference Board and the University of Michigan, both of which found that overall consumer confidence and consumers’ future expectations had risen in both July and August. Falling gas prices were the main reason given for the increases in confidence.

California consumers indicated they were slightly more willing to open up their pocketbooks for big-ticket items, as the index of spending rose to 56.7 in the third quarter from 51 in the second quarter.

However, consumers were more bearish about current economic conditions, as the index reading fell to 40 in the third quarter from 42.1 in the second quarter. A year ago, the index stood at 90.3.