Consumer Sentiment (University of Michigan)
The University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers index measures how households feel about their finances, business conditions, and buying plans. Running since 1952, it is one of the longest continuous reads on the US consumer — whose spending is roughly two-thirds of GDP.
Latest reading
As of April 2026, Consumer Sentiment (Sentiment index) stands at 49.8 — down from 53.3 the prior reading. Counterintuitively, sentiment works best as a contrarian indicator at extremes: all-time lows (1980, 2008, 2011, 2022) have been excellent long-term equity entry points, while euphoric highs (2000) marked late-cycle conditions. In the middle of the range, the direction of travel matters more than the level — deteriorating sentiment with rising claims is the combination to respect. Series history runs from 1952 to present.
Sentiment index
Next release: Jun 26, 2026
Full history
How to read it
Counterintuitively, sentiment works best as a contrarian indicator at extremes: all-time lows (1980, 2008, 2011, 2022) have been excellent long-term equity entry points, while euphoric highs (2000) marked late-cycle conditions. In the middle of the range, the direction of travel matters more than the level — deteriorating sentiment with rising claims is the combination to respect.