US UoM Consumer Sentiment Index is seen declining to 57.9 in March

• Consumer confidence in the US declined markedly in early March.
• One-year inflation expectation edged higher to 4.9%.

US Consumer Sentiment took a dip in early March, according to the preliminary reading of the University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Index. The gauge slipped from 64.7 in February to 57.9, missing the market’s forecast.

Breaking it down further, the Current Conditions Index edged down from 65.7 to 63.5, while the Consumer Expectations Index moved from 64.0 to 54.2.

On the inflation front, the survey revealed a noticeable uptick in one-year inflation expectations—from 4.3% to 4.9%—and the five-year outlook rose from 3.5% to 3.9%.

Market reaction

The release of the indicator did not move the Greenback’s dial, with the US Dollar Index (DXY) resuming its downtrend after two-daily upticks in a row and revisiting the 103.80 region, down modestly for the day.