Comment on U.S. consumer sentiment down amid trade tensions

WASHINGTON — U.S. consumer sentiment unexpectedly fell to the lowest level in almost a year amid less favorable views on purchasing big-ticket items and persistent concerns about trade tensions, a University of Michigan report showed Friday. Consumers showed a broad drop in confidence about major purchases, a possible caution signal for spending following strong gains in the second quarter, with the decline in the main sentiment gauge concentrated among households in the bottom third of incomes.