US consumer spirits improved in April

LONDON (ShareCast) - US consumer sentiment improved slightly at the start of April, as inflation expectations fell back. The University of Michigan's index advanced to a reading of 95.9 from the 93 point level one year back.

Economists had been expecting a reading of 94.

A sub-index of consumers' expectations rose to the 88 point mark from 85.3 at the end of March.

In parallel, a gauge of how consumers evaluate the current situation improved to 108.2 from 105.

Consumers' inflation expectations one year ahead dropped back to 2.5% from 3%.

Over a longer time horizon, between five to 10 years out, expectations for inflation slipped to 2.6% from 2.8%.