Biden sells economic strength, but voters aren't buying yet

Mr. Biden will be trying to convince them that things will get better as he heads on Friday to his first economy-focused campaign event of 2024, in Allentown in the crucial battleground state of Pennsylvania.

U.S. President Joe Biden has good news to sell on the economy as he seeks reelection in November but voters don't seem to be buying it.

Growth is up, unemployment is down, and the U.S. economy is recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic better than most other countries thanks to a huge stimulus package.

The problem for the Democrat's campaign for a second term in office is that most Americans are not feeling the improvement in the place that matters most: their wallets.

Inflation is mostly declining, but stubbornly high prices mean people are still struggling to put food on the table, pay the rent or run their car, whatever the government numbers say.

Mr. Biden will be trying to convince them that things will get better as he heads on Friday to his first economy-focused campaign event of 2024, in Allentown in the crucial battleground state of Pennsylvania.

After inflation figures rose more than anticipated on Thursday, he boasted of creating 14 million jobs since taking office but conceded there was "much more work to do to lower costs for American families and American workers."

Joanne Hsu of the University of Michigan, whose department publishes a monthly consumer confidence survey that's closely followed by markets, said the mood in the United States was improving -- but slowly.