US consumer sentiment improves as inflation fears subside
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| Improvement in US consumer sentiment |
Consumer sentiment saw a slight improvement at the start of February, as near-term inflation expectations declined, according to the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index released Friday, February 6.
The University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index showed a headline reading of 57.3, up 1.6% from January and above the Dow Jones Industrial Average's median forecast of 55.0. The current conditions index rose 5.2% to 58.3. Both indices are down more than 11% from their levels a year ago.
As for inflation, one-year expectations were at 3.5%, down half a percentage point from January and the lowest level since January 2025.
"Consumer sentiment among those with the largest equity portfolios improved, while it remained stagnant at low levels for those without stocks," said survey director Joan Hsu.