WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. consumers' mood improved slightly this month, with worries about inflation easing a bit, but remains gloomy.
The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index, released Friday in a preliminary version, rose to 53.3 early this month from a final reading of 51 in November. The index beat the 52 mark that economists had forecast but is down considerably from 71.7 in January.
Consumers' evaluation of current economic conditions slipped slightly, but their expectations for the future brightened somewhat.
Expectations for year-ahead inflation dipped to 4.1% from 4.5% last month to the lowest level since January when Donald Trump returned to the White House and began imposing sweeping taxes — tariffs — on imports from countries around the world. Economists warn that importers pay the tariffs and then try to pass along the cost to their customers through higher prices.
Trump has reached a series of deals with major U.S. trading partners, including the European Union and Japan, that brought his tariffs down from the punishingly high levels he'd threatened in the spring. Still, the average U.S. tariff rate has climbed from 2.4% in January to 16.8% last month, highest since 1935, according to calculations by the Budget Lab at Yale University.
Joanne Hsu, who directs the Michigan economic surveys, said: “The overall tenor of views is broadly somber, as consumers continue to cite the burden of high prices.″
Inflation has fallen from the highs reached in mid-2022 but remains stubbornly above the Federal Reserve's 2% target.
FILE - Black Friday Shoppers wait in line to enter Macy's flagship store on Friday, Nov. 28, 2025. (Photo by Angelina Katsanis/AFP)
TORONTO (AP) — Kon Knueppel hit five 3-pointers and scored 21 points and the Charlotte Hornets beat the Toronto Raptors 111-86 on Friday night to end a two-game losing streak.
Knueppel added eight assists, and Miles Bridges had 15 points and nine rebounds.
Hornets guard LaMelo Ball had 11 points, two rebounds and three assists in 12 minutes before leaving the game with left ankle soreness.
Immanuel Quickley scored a season-high 31 points for Toronto. The Raptors lost at home to the Los Angeles Lakers 123-120 the night before.
Scottie Barnes had 13 points and five assists. Raptors reserve forward Jamison Battle left the game with 11 minutes left after spraining his left ankle.
Hornets: Host Denver on Sunday night.
Raptors: Host Boston on Sunday night.
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Charlotte Hornets' Sion James (4) strips the ball from Toronto Raptors' Jamal Shead (23) during second half NBA basketball action in Toronto on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Raptors' Brandon Ingram (3) shoots past Charlotte Hornets' Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) during second half NBA basketball action in Toronto on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Charlotte Hornets' Lamelo Ball (1) scores past Toronto Raptors' Immanuel Quickley, front left, during first-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Charlotte Hornets' Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) shoots over Toronto Raptors' Jakob Poeltl (19) during first half NBA basketball action in Toronto on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Charlotte Hornets' Kon Knueppel (7) drives past Toronto Raptors' Ja'Kobe Walter (14) during first half NBA basketball action in Toronto on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
