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The U.S. Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index rose to 91.8 in March, above the 87.8 forecast and higher than 91.0 previously. The data points to an improvement in household sentiment, with confidence beating expectations and moving slightly higher from the prior reading.

Possible Market Effect: A stronger confidence reading can modestly support U.S. risk sentiment, as it suggests households remain more resilient than expected.

Source: The Conference Board.

The Chicago PMI entry for March included a 54.8 forecast and a 57.7 previous reading, but the actual figure was not visible in the provided data. As a result, the release can be identified, but no numerical comparison with the reported outcome can be made from the input shown.

Source: MNI Indicators.

U.S. housing-price data for January showed a softer year-on-year trend and slower monthly momentum. The S&P/Case-Shiller 20-city index, non-seasonally adjusted, fell 0.1% month-on-month, unchanged from the previous -0.1% reading. On a yearly basis, the same index rose 1.2%, below the 1.4% forecast and weaker than 1.4% previously. The seasonally adjusted Case-Shiller 20-city index rose 0.2% month-on-month, slowing from 0.5% previously. The FHFA House Price Index rose 0.1% month-on-month, matching the 0.1% forecast but slowing from 0.3% previously, while annual FHFA house-price growth eased to 1.6% from 1.9%. The FHFA index level edged up to 441.0 from 440.7. Taken together, the data points to continued house-price growth, but at a slower pace than before.

Possible Market Effect: Softer housing-price momentum may slightly support the view that U.S. shelter inflation pressures are not re-accelerating, although the data is unlikely to shift rate expectations on its own.

Source: S&P Dow Jones Indices; Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA).

The U.S. Redbook retail sales index rose 6.9% year-on-year, up from 6.7% previously. The data indicates that chain-store sales growth remained firm and improved slightly from the prior reading, pointing to still-resilient consumer spending trends in this series.

Source: Redbook Research.

The latest U.S. Treasury bill auctions showed a mild pullback in short-term yields, with the 3-month bill at 3.620% versus 3.635% previously, and the 6-month bill at 3.605% compared with 3.630% before. The move points to slightly easier front-end funding conditions and suggests demand for short-dated government paper remained relatively firm.

Importance: Low

Source: U.S. Treasury, TreasuryDirect.

The Dallas Fed Manufacturing Business Index fell to -0.2 in March from 0.2 previously, pointing to a slight loss of momentum in Texas factory sentiment. The reading suggests manufacturing conditions are hovering around stagnation rather than showing a clear expansion trend, even as the broader Dallas Fed survey said factory activity in March continued to rise, but more slowly than in February.

Importance: Low

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

The University of Michigan’s final March survey showed a softer consumer backdrop. Consumer sentiment fell to 53.3, current conditions dropped to 55.8, and consumer expectations slipped to 51.7. At the same time, 1-year inflation expectations rose to 3.8% from 3.4%, while 5-year inflation expectations held at 3.2%. The mix suggests households turned more cautious in the near term, even though longer-run inflation expectations remained relatively stable.

Source: University of Michigan, Surveys of Consumers — Final Results for March 2026.

The Federal Reserve’s latest H.4.1 release showed the Fed’s balance sheet at $6.657 trillion as of March 25, 2026, little changed from the prior week but slightly higher overall. At the same time, reserve balances with Federal Reserve Banks rose to $3.036 trillion from about $2.994 trillion, indicating a modest increase in liquidity parked in the banking system.

Source: Federal Reserve — Factors Affecting Reserve Balances (H.4.1), March 26, 2026.

The latest U.S. Treasury auctions showed a 4-week bill high rate of 3.620%, an 8-week bill high rate of 3.630%, and a 7-year note high yield of 4.255%. Compared with the prior results, the 4-week bill ticked slightly higher, the 8-week bill edged slightly lower, and the 7-year note yield moved sharply higher, pointing to firmer funding costs further out the curve.

Source: U.S. Treasury / TreasuryDirect — Upcoming Auctions / Announcements, Data & Results.

The Kansas City Fed composite index rose to 11 in March from 5 in February, while the manufacturing index also came in at 11, up from 10 previously. The Kansas City Fed said Tenth District manufacturing activity increased moderately in March, suggesting regional factory conditions improved further at the end of the first quarter.

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City — Tenth District Manufacturing Activity Increased Moderately in March.

New U.S. labor-market data showed initial jobless claims at 210,000, versus 205,000 previously, while continuing claims fell to 1.819 million from 1.851 million. The 4-week average edged down to 210,500 from 210,750, suggesting that layoffs remain limited and the labor market remains relatively stable despite a slight uptick in new claims.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor — Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims.

U.S. President Donald Trump is now scheduled to visit China on May 14–15, according to the White House, after an earlier plan was delayed by the Iran war. Reuters reported that the trip is expected to center on talks with President Xi Jinping, with the delay adding another layer of tension to already sensitive U.S.-China ties.

The White House said Xi is also expected to make a later reciprocal visit to the United States. The rescheduling confirms that the China visit remains on track, but at a later date than previously planned.

Source: Reuters; White House announcement.