Updated: 10-Apr-26 10:33 ET
Highlights
- The preliminary reading for the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index for April fell to 47.6 (Briefing.com consensus: 52.0) from the final reading of 53.3 for March.
- In the same period a year ago, the index stood at 52.2.
- The Current Economic Conditions Index dropped to 50.1 from the final reading of 55.8 for March. In the same period a year ago, the index stood at 59.8.
- The Index of Consumer Expectations declined to 46.1 from the final reading of 51.7 for March. In the same period a year ago, the index stood at 47.3.
- Year-ahead inflation expectations surged to 4.8% from the final reading of 3.8% for March.
- Long-run inflation expectations bumped up to 3.4% from 3.2% in March.
- The key takeaway from the report is that the fallout from the Iran conflict was the driver of the big drop in sentiment and big rise in year-ahead inflation expectations in April (note: nearly all responses to the survey were captured before the two-week ceasefire agreement announced on April 7).
| Category | APR | MAR | FEB | JAN | DEC |
| Sentiment | 47.6 | 53.3 | 56.6 | 56.4 | 52.9 |
| Outlook | 46.1 | 51.7 | 56.6 | 57.0 | 54.6 |
| Present conditions | 50.1 | 55.8 | 56.6 | 55.4 | 50.4 |
