University of Michigan survey: Consumer sentiment in the United States improved slightly in January.

According to the monthly survey by the University of Michigan, consumer sentiment slightly improved in January, with consumer confidence rebounding from near-historic lows reached at the end of last year. The consumer sentiment index for this month is 56.4, up from 52.9 in December last year. Preliminary data released two weeks ago showed an improvement in consumer sentiment to 54 in January. However, the recent months of downturn have been one of the most severe in the survey's recorded history since the 1950s. Similar downturns have only occurred in the past decade after the peak of inflation following the 2022 pandemic, and after US President Trump announced substantial global tariffs last spring. Despite a significant decrease in inflation over the past three years, it still remains above the long-term trend, leaving consumers frustrated by the price increases that have already occurred. They also feel anxious about the job market with fewer employment opportunities.