by Lucia Mutikani
Reuters.com
WASHINGTON, May 28 (Reuters) – U.S. consumer confidence unexpectedly improved in May after deteriorating for three straight months amid optimism about the labor market, but worries about inflation persisted and many households expected higher interest rates over the next year.
The mixed survey from the Conference Board on Tuesday also showed more consumers believed that the economy could slip into recession in the next 12 months. Nonetheless, consumers were very upbeat about the stock market and more planned to buy major household appliances over the next six months.
While the economy is expected to slow this year as a result of the cumulative impact of 525 basis points worth of interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve since March 2022 to tame inflation, economists and most business executives are not forecasting a downturn.