December brought a surprising lift in consumer sentiment, with the latest University of Michigan survey showing confidence climbing back up. What's really catching eyes though? The sharp drop in inflation worries among Democratic respondents.

While overall sentiment improved across the board, the most dramatic shift came from one particular demographic slice. Democrats' inflation expectations took a nosedive this month, marking a notable divergence in how different political groups are viewing economic pressures right now.

This kind of confidence swing matters beyond just consumer spending patterns. When inflation fears ease up in major survey groups, it tends to ripple through risk asset markets—including crypto. Macro traders are definitely taking notes on these sentiment shifts as we head into year-end.