US Consumer Sentiment Slips as Inflation Outlook Worsens

US consumer sentiment slid to a three-month low in March and year-ahead inflation expectations jumped as the war in the Middle East drives up gasoline prices.

The University of Michigan’s final March sentiment index fell to 53.3 from a preliminary reading of 55.5, according to a report released Friday. The survey period includes responses from Feb. 17 to March 23, with about two-thirds of those collected after the Iran war began.