US consumer sentiment slides to lowest in 3 years as trade war raises anxiety about inflation

CHRISTOPHER RUGABER

Fri, May 16, 2025, 7:15 AM 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. user sentiment fell somewhat successful May for the 5th consecutive period arsenic Americans progressively interest that President Donald Trump’s commercialized warfare volition worsen inflation.

The preliminary speechmaking of the University of Michigan’s intimately watched user sentiment index, released Friday, declined 2.7% connected a monthly ground to 50.8, the lowest since July 2022. Since January, sentiment has tumbled astir 30%.

Americans person mostly taken a sour presumption astir wherever the system is headed successful the aftermath of the Trump administration’s imposition of immense import duties, which endanger to dilatory maturation and propulsion up prices. In caller weeks, the White House has pulled backmost connected its astir draconian policies, though mean duties are inactive precocious by humanities standards.

Trump had slapped 145% tariffs connected each imports from China, a determination that efficaciously suspended commercialized with the United States’ third-largest trading spouse successful goods. But connected Monday, the 2 countries said they had reached a deal that would little U.S. tariffs to 30%, portion China would chopped its duties connected U.S. exports to 10% from 125%.