Updated: 17-Jul-26 10:14 ET
Highlights
- The preliminary reading for the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index for July increased to 54.4 (Briefing.com consensus: 50.7) from the final reading of 49.5 for June.
- In the same period a year ago, the index stood at 61.7.
- The Current Economic Conditions Index jumped to 54.9 from the final reading of 47.7 for June. In the same period a year ago, the index stood at 68.0.
- The Index of Consumer Expectations rose to 54.0 from the final reading of 50.7 for June. In the same period a year ago, the index stood at 57.7.
- Year-ahead inflation expectations dropped to 4.2% from 4.6% in June.
- Long-run inflation expectations held steady at 3.3%.
- The key takeaway from the report was the correlation between lower gas prices and higher sentiment, the latter of which was pervasive across groups by age, wealth, income, and political party. Gas prices, though, have started to increase again with the military action between the U.S. and Iran, so it remains to be seen if this improved sentiment can be sustained.
| Category | JUN | MAY | APR | MAR | FEB |
| Sentiment | 49.5 | 44.8 | 49.8 | 53.3 | 56.6 |
| Outlook | 50.7 | 44.1 | 48.1 | 51.7 | 56.6 |
| Present conditions | 47.7 | 45.8 | 52.5 | 55.8 | 56.6 |
