[CLSTR]
< Back to situations

Monitor this situation.

[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE] · [BUSINESS]

7 clusters · 47 sources · 43 days · First seen · Last updated

US consumer sentiment trends

Overview

US consumer sentiment experienced volatility during the summer of 2026. In July, the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index reached a five-month high of 55.2, up from 49.5 in June. This increase was accompanied by a decrease in one-year inflation expectations to 4.2 percent, despite rising gasoline prices linked to US-Iran tensions. Preliminary data for August indicated a decline in confidence, with the University of Michigan index falling to 51.0, a 7.6% decrease from the previous month. This drop was sharper than the 55.0 anticipated by economists, marking the end of a two-month period of improvement. The downturn was driven by concerns over worsening inflation and deteriorating business conditions. One-year inflation expectations rose slightly to 4.3 percent, while long-term expectations remained steady at 3.3 percent. This decline was particularly pronounced among older consumers, lower-income individuals, and those without college degrees. By late August, The Conference Board reported that the U.S. consumer confidence index fell to 89.4, its lowest level in seven months. This data revealed a divergence between current and future outlooks: while the Present Situation Index rose to 121.2, marking its first improvement in four months, the Expectations Index dropped 5.8 points to 68.2.

In early September, the downward trend continued as the University of Michigan’s preliminary index fell further to 47.8 from August’s 51.7, underperforming analyst expectations. This decline was fueled by gasoline prices reaching their highest levels ever for the month of September, alongside ongoing trade tensions and conflict involving Iran. Consequently, one-year inflation expectations rose to 4.6 percent, and long-term expectations increased slightly to 3.4 percent. For the first time since 2023, a majority of consumers anticipate the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates within the next year, while economic outlook expectations hit their lowest levels since July 2022.

Entities

University of Michigan · Joanne Hsu · United States · Federal Reserve · The Conference Board

Timeline

  1. about 3 hours ago

    [BUSINESS] 3 sources
    US consumer confidence falls amid rising gas prices and inflation fears

    US consumer confidence fell to 47.8 in September, driven by rising gasoline prices, inflation concerns, and geopolitical tensions, marking a significant decline in economic sentiment.

  2. 11 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 4 sources
    US consumer confidence hits seven-month low

    US consumer confidence hit a seven-month low in August as the Expectations Index fell, reflecting growing pessimism about future business and labor conditions despite improvements in current economic views.

  3. 16 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 28 sources
    Global economic indicators show mixed confidence and inflation trends in August

    Global economic data for August reveals declining US consumer confidence due to inflation fears, mixed industrial sentiment in Brazil, and economic stagnation in France amid varying Eurozone trends.

  4. 23 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 6 sources
    Consumer sentiment diverges in US and UK markets

    Consumer sentiment diverged in August, with U.S. confidence falling due to inflation fears while UK sentiment rose, driven by improved personal finances and increased retail spending.

  5. 26 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    US consumer sentiment falls in August amid inflation concerns

    US consumer sentiment fell to 51 in August 2026 as inflation concerns grew. Only 8% of consumers expect their income to outpace inflation over the next year, reflecting a significant decline in purchasing power

  6. 28 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 4 sources
    US consumer sentiment falls to 51 in August

    US consumer sentiment fell to 51.0 in August, missing economist expectations. One-year inflation expectations rose to 4.3 percent, with significant declines noted among low-income and older consumers.

  7. about 1 month ago

    [BUSINESS] 10 sources
    US consumer sentiment climbs to five‑month high in July

    July 2026 University of Michigan survey shows US consumer sentiment rose to 55.2, a five‑month high, with lower inflation expectations and broad gains despite higher gas prices and ongoing US‑Iran tensions.

Sources

abc17news.com · aktienkurs-orderbuch.finanznachrichten.de · alotatuape.com.br · bankingjournal.aba.com · bermudabroadcasting.com · bigfurnituregroup.com · buddhisttemples.org · capital.gr · cashcow.nl · cfomagazine.com.au · cheapism.com · chinesepress.com · coloradobiz.com · credit-connect.co.uk · cryptobriefing.com · dagens.de · democrats.org · eco.sapo.pt · finanzen.at · findlove.com · forexlive.com · greenmountain.no · heartbeats.jp · huffingtonpost.it · instituteofcustomerservice.com · it-boltwise.de · justthenews.com · kesq.com · kion546.com · mindef.gov.sg · moneycab.com · mononews.gr · negocios.pt · nemosnewsnetwork.com · newmoney.gr · perfil.com · pontevedrarecorder.com · portas.com.br · proactiveadvisormagazine.com · sapo.pt · southernmarylandchronicle.com · talkingretail.com · thegrocer.co.uk · tnonline.com.br · veterinarypracticenews.com · viagemegastronomia.com.br · vinetur.com

This summary has been updated 9 times: see revision history