(March 31): US consumer confidence unexpectedly rose in March on slightly more upbeat views of current business and labour-market conditions. Despite the improvement in March, confidence remains subdued compared to recent years as consumers stay cautious about their job prospects and prices. The difference between these two — a metric closely followed by economists to gauge the job market — was little changed. The cutoff for this month’s survey was March 24, more than three weeks into the war. The government’s monthly jobs report, due on Friday, is expected to show US payrolls advanced at a moderate pace in March, and the unemployment rate held steady, after employers shed jobs in February.

Source: The Edge Markets March 31, 2026 15:14 UTC