The University of Michigan’s preliminary March consumer sentiment index reading was 56.6, compared to the final February 56.3, the preliminary February 56.2, and January’s 61.2, according to market sources.
Economists polled by Thomson Reuters had predicted a 55.0 reading for the index.
The expectations index was 53.0, compared to 50.5 last month, 49.1 at mid-month and 57.8 in January.
The current conditions index was 62.3, compared to 65.5 last month, 67.1 earlier in February, and 66.5 in January.
Economists polled by Thomson Reuters had predicted a 64.0 reading for the current conditions index and 49.0 for the expectations index.
The five-year inflation expectation index was 2.8% in March and the one-year inflation expectation index was 2.2%.
