#USConsumerConfidence Consumer companies fell sharply after weak consumer-confidence data and inflationary jobs data. The U.S. economy added 256,000 jobs in December and the unemployment rate edged down to 4.1%, the Labor Department said. The University of Michigan's index of consumer sentiment dipped to 73.2 at the start of January from 74.0 last month, weaker than economist targets. Fears about resurgent inflation were the cause of the loss in confidence, as the incoming Trump administration's plans to cut taxes and raise import tariffs and a robust labor market threaten to be a toxic combination for consumer prices.