December University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index climbed to 52.9, up from 51 in the prior period—a solid uptick signaling improved consumer outlook. What's particularly noteworthy: forward-looking expectations surged to 54.6 versus 51 previously, suggesting households are positioning for better times ahead. However, there's a slight dip on the current conditions side, which dipped to 50.4 from 51.1—indicating present-day economic reality remains mixed. The gap between expectations and current conditions tells an interesting story: consumers are cautiously optimistic but acknowledge near-term headwinds. For crypto markets tracking macro sentiment, this divergence matters—it hints at potential volatility as reality catches up to expectations, or expectations adjust downward.