US consumer confidence fell to a near four-year low in April, driven by fears that prices will keep climbing. The Iran conflict is adding pressure through higher oil and commodity costs, even as gas prices dipped slightly after a ceasefire. Americans now expect inflation to stay elevated for both the next year and five years, keeping sentiment muted.
A new Reuters Ipsos snapshot finds many Americans pin the latest gas price surge on President Donald Trump, making fuel costs a central election pressure point. With budgets squeezed and inflation worries high, Republican economic strengths are looking less reliable. The data also suggests voters may avoid candidates tied to Trump’s Iran policy as they weigh cost-of-living strain.
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