Consumer confidence fell sharply in April, reaching the lowest level since the peak of postpandemic inflation, according to The Hill. The University of Michigan’s survey showed an 8.4 percent monthly drop, fueled by economic fears tied to President Trump’s escalating global trade battles.
Current conditions dipped 6.3 percent, while future expectations tumbled over 10 percent, marking a staggering 32 percent decline since January. Inflation concerns are rising too, with year-ahead projections jumping from 5 percent to 6.5 percent amid aggressive tariffs between the U.S. and China.
The trade standoff and steep tariffs — now the highest in more than a century — are rattling both consumer and business sentiment, with multiple economic indicators registering mounting pessimism across the board.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].