Overview
- The Conference Board index rose 2.2 points to 91.2, exceeding a Reuters consensus of 87.0, and January was revised up to 89.0 from 84.5.
- The Expectations Index increased to 72.0 for the month, marking a 13th straight reading below 80, while the Present Situation measure slipped 1.8 points to 120.0.
- Perceptions of employment improved as the share saying jobs are plentiful reached 28.0%, alongside government data showing 130,000 jobs added in January and a 4.3% unemployment rate.
- Write-in responses continued to flag high prices and inflation as key worries, even as plans for big-ticket purchases ticked higher, led by used cars, furniture, TVs and smartphones.
- Economists point to trade and immigration policy uncertainty as a hiring headwind, and the survey was completed before the Supreme Court tariff ruling and the administration’s subsequent global tariffs.