U.S. Consumer Sentiment Remains at Decade-Low on Inflation, War

Emma Kinery - 1h ago

© Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- U.S. consumer sentiment continued to worsen in late March to a fresh decade low as inflation erodes incomes, heightened by uncertainty over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The University of Michigan’s sentiment index dropped to 59.4 from 59.7 earlier in the month, data released Friday showed. The median estimate called for no change in a Bloomberg survey of economists. ... A gauge of current conditions decreased to 67.2 from 67.8 earlier in the month. The survey’s measure of future expectations was little changed at the lowest since 2011.

Consumers still expect inflation to rise 5.4% over the next year. They expect prices will increase at an annual rate of 3% over the next five to 10 years, unchanged from February. While still above the Federal Reserve’s target rate, it may offer some comfort to the central bank that long-term expectations remain anchored.

Americans are facing decades-high inflation, prompting the Fed to raise rates for the first time since 2018 last week. Price pressures, which are outpacing wage gains, have only worsened as Russia’s war in Ukraine enters its second month, driving up the cost of staples like food and gasoline.

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