Economics
U.S. Consumer Sentiment Edged Up in Late October, Still Low
- Democrats’ optimism surges as Biden victory anticipated
- Covid-19 fears persist, generating uncertainty for spending
A shopper exits a store in El Paso on Oct. 26.
Photographer: Paul Ratje/AFP via Getty Images
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U.S. consumer sentiment edged up slightly in late October while remaining well below pre-pandemic levels, suggesting Americans’ anxiety over Covid-19 is persisting just before the election.
The University of Michigan’s final sentiment index for October was 81.8, compared with a preliminary reading of 81.2 early in the month and September’s final reading of 80.4, according to data released Friday. The median estimate from economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for 81.2.