Consumer confidence surged in May, reaching 98.0 on the Conference Board's index, a 12.3-point jump from April. This significant increase surpasses expectations and is largely attributed to easing US-China trade tensions following President Trump's decision to halt severe tariffs. Positive sentiment improved across various demographics, with Republicans showing the strongest gains. Other indicators like the present situation and expectations indices also rose sharply, reflecting increased optimism in the stock market and job prospects.

Prepared by Christopher Adams and reviewed by editorial team.