American consumers are regaining confidence after months of economic anxiety sparked by aggressive trade policies. In May, the Conference Board’s consumer confidence index rose sharply by 12.3 points to 98, bouncing back from April’s low of 85.7—its weakest level since the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The rebound reflects growing optimism about short-term economic prospects. A key indicator measuring expectations for income, business conditions, and job availability surged 17.4 points to 72.8. Although still below the critical threshold of 80—often viewed as a signal of possible recession—the sharp improvement suggests diminishing fears of an economic downturn.
Much of this renewed optimism can be attributed to recent developments in US trade policy. Former President Donald Trump’s imposition of steep tariffs had rattled markets and undermined confidence, but recent pauses and agreements with major partners like China and the UK have helped ease concerns. A 90-day delay on a 145% tariff on Chinese goods and a temporary suspension of tariffs on European imports appear to have bolstered consumer sentiment.
The report also revealed that optimism was consistent across different age and income groups. However, consumers remained cautious about job prospects, as perceptions of job availability declined for the fifth consecutive month. This came despite the labor department reporting strong employment growth, with 177,000 new jobs added in April and the unemployment rate holding steady at 4.2%.
Overall, the data suggests that while challenges remain, Americans are beginning to feel more hopeful about the economic road ahead.