Summary: US consumer confidence essentially steady in May; marginal decline in Conference Board index reading less than expected; view of present conditions rises, short-term outlook falls; consumers “remain optimistic”; “economic growth remains robust” but “decelerating growth, softening labour market” expected; peak consumer confidence reached but “plenty of pent-up demand.” After the GFC in 2008/09, US consumer confidence clawed its way back to neutral over a number of years and...