On March 12, 2025, U.S. stock futures indicate potential gains following recent selloffs, with Nasdaq, S&P 500, and Dow Jones futures showing increases. Significant news includes the enforcement of U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs, prompting the EU to retaliate with tariffs of $28 billion. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, released at 8:30 a.m. ET, is anticipated to indicate a slight deceleration in inflation for February, crucial ahead of the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision next week.

Despite the absence of a technical recession, economic uncertainty is affecting consumer and business sentiments. Factors such as fluctuating stock investments, high costs of essentials, and concerns over tariff policies have led to a significant drop in consumer sentiment indices.