April s preliminary US economic data shows unexpected strength in durable goods orders, rising 0.70% against a predicted -0.80% decline. Even excluding transportation, the sector grew 0.4%, surpassing the 0.20% forecast. Consumer sentiment, measured by the University of Michigan, also improved to 69.10 from 67.70. However, inflation expectations for the next year and five to ten years fell slightly below predictions, at 3.30% and 3.00%, respectively.