Gas-price relief lifts consumer sentiment for first time in three months

New University of Michigan data show consumer sentiment rose 9% to a preliminary 48.9 this month, marking the first uptick in three months, aided by recent declines in gasoline prices; however, sentiment remains historically weak amid ongoing inflation and energy-price volatility linked to the Iran war. Economists say a real recovery will require sustained price stability, with low-income households buoyed most by cheaper gas, while a separate TransUnion survey finds inflation remains the top financial worry.