US consumer confidence saw a modest increase in March, according to The Conference Board, with the overall index rising to 91.8 from 91.0 in February. The improvement was mainly driven by stronger views on current economic conditions, even as concerns about the future outlook remained.
The Present Situation Index, which reflects how consumers view current business and job conditions, rose notably. More people felt that business conditions had improved, and perceptions of the job market were slightly better, with a small increase in the share of consumers who believe jobs are easy to find.
However, confidence about the next six months weakened. The Expectations Index declined, as consumers grew more cautious about future job opportunities and their income prospects. While expectations for business conditions improved slightly, overall sentiment about the future remained subdued.
Although the headline numbers showed only minor changes, underlying responses suggested that rising prices—linked to tariffs and higher oil costs—are starting to weigh on consumer sentiment, particularly through increased inflation expectations.