Inflation Cools Amid Trade War De-escalation, Consumer Sentiment Rebounds
Consumer sentiment surged in June as inflation fears eased and trade tensions between the U.S. and China showed signs of thawing. The University of Michigan''s headline index jumped to 60.5, far exceeding Dow Jones economists'' forecast of 54—a 15.9% monthly gain. Both current conditions (+8.1%) and future expectations (+21.9%) subindices posted dramatic recoveries.
The rebound correlates with the WHITE House''s shift from April''s tariff threats to a 90-day negotiation window with China. While no deal materialized, the rhetorical ceasefire alone appears to have recalibrated household risk assessments. "This wasn''t just emotional relief," noted survey director Joanne Hsu. "Consumers are fundamentally reweighting economic probabilities."