By Joshua KirbyU.S. consumers are proving a little less optimistic about the country's economic outlook, despite a backdrop of easing inflation, energetic growth and impending cuts to interest rates. The University of Michigan's consumer-confidence survey slipped backward slightly to 76.5 in mid-March from 76.9 last month, dragged downward by a more negative outlook for the coming months. "Consumer views have stabilized into a holding pattern; consumers perceived few signals that the economy is currently improving or deteriorating," survey director Joanne Hsu said. Consumers appear to be biding their time on the economy ahead of presidential elections later this year, Hsu said. Write to Joshua Kirby at joshua.kirby@wsj.com; @joshualeokirby(END) Dow Jones NewswiresMarch 15, 2024 10:32 ET (14:32 GMT)Copyright (c) 2024 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

Source: Wall Street Journal March 16, 2024 02:40 UTC