US consumer confidence unexpectedly improved in April, rising 0.6 points to 92.8, according to The Conference Board. The March reading was revised up to 92.2. Economists surveyed by Reuters had predicted a slide to 89.0. The gain came even as Americans worried about higher gasoline prices.
Surging fuel costs linked to the Iran war are pushing global inflation higher at a rapid pace, while consumer confidence is sliding sharply. As energy prices ripple through everyday spending, households appear increasingly pessimistic, weakening sentiment across major economies and raising pressure on policymakers to manage growth and prices.
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