US February consumer confidence 98.3 vs 102.5 expected

• Prior was 104.1
• Present Situation Index 136.5 vs. 133.1 prior
• Expectations Index 72.9 vs 82.2 prior
• 12-month inflation expectations 6.0% vs 5.2% prior

This is the largest monthly decline since August 2021. It’s not clear if this is just tariff worries or something more but it’s the third month in a row of declines and is perilously close to the lowest since 2022. The inflation number is worrisome and will get the Fed’s attention.

The University of Michigan survey has also fallen recently.

Shares of Walmart are down 10% from the February high despite the company calling spending ‘resilient’.

This article was written by Adam Button at www.forexlive.com.