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US consumer sentiment hits 4-month low on inflation, trade fears

University of Michigan survey shows Americans' economic outlook weakening across political spectrum amid rising prices and trade tensions.

newest coverage 2h agosummary written 2d ago15 pieces284 likes & upvotes47 comments NewswiresMastodonBlueskyGoogle NewsX

What to know

  • Consumer sentiment hit a four-month low of 48.1 in September, down 7% from August and 15% from January, as Americans worry about rising prices and trade tensions.
  • One-year inflation expectations surged to 4.6% in September from 4.0% in August—the highest since May and sharply above February's 3.4%—driven by elevated gas and grocery costs.
  • Pessimism about the economy spans the political spectrum, with consumers across all groups reporting a dimmed outlook since the start of 2026.
  • Gas prices have risen over $1.50 since the start of the Iran war and are approaching $5 per gallon nationally, exceeding $6 in California.

Joanne HsuJoanne Hsu Director, University of Michigan Surveys of ConsumersMohamed A. El-Erian Economist

US consumer sentiment hits 4-month low on inflation, trade fears
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How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 4 pieces in one hour at Sep 25, 10 AM; 15 pieces over 2 days (9 articles · 6 posts) Sep 25, 9 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 25, 10 AM — 4 pieces · 4 articles — Google News 3, Newswires 1Sep 25, 11 AM — 2 pieces · 1 article · 1 post — Bluesky 1, Newswires 1Sep 25, 12 PM — 3 pieces · 1 article · 2 posts — Bluesky 1, Mastodon 1, Newswires 1Sep 25, 1 PM — quietSep 25, 2 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 25, 3 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Bluesky 1Sep 25, 4 PM — 2 pieces · 1 article · 1 post — Bluesky 1, Newswires 1Sep 25, 5 PM — quietSep 25, 6 PM — quietSep 25, 7 PM — quietSep 25, 8 PM — quietSep 25, 9 PM — quietSep 25, 10 PM — quietSep 25, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 1 AM — quietToday, 2 AM — quietToday, 3 AM — quietToday, 4 AM — quietToday, 5 AM — quietToday, 6 AM — quietToday, 7 AM — quietToday, 8 AM — quietToday, 9 AM — quietToday, 10 AM — quietToday, 11 AM — quietToday, 12 PM — quietToday, 1 PM — quietToday, 2 PM — quietToday, 3 PM — quietToday, 4 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — X 1Today, 5 PM — quietToday, 6 PM — quiet ◂ 1 earlier2
yesterdaytodaynow · 7:02 PM ET
  1. 2

    Economist flags growing disconnect between sentiment and economic data

    Mohamed El-Erian noted on Bluesky that the divergence between consumer sentiment and broader economic activity data is widening, highlighting the gap between weak sentiment readings and other economic indicators.

    “Despite political differences, consumers unanimously believe that the outlook for the economy has diminished.”
    — Joanne Hsu, Director, University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers · source

    • BREAKING: The Consumer Sentiment Index fell -3.6 points in September, to 48.1, its 2nd-lowest level in history. This marks the 2nd consecutive monthly decline, totaling -7.1 points. This comes as the Current Conditions Index decreased -1.0 point, to 50.9, its 4th-lowest reading

      @KobeissiLetterX2h ago134▲view on X ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 3 posts in this stretch
    • cnn.com

      US consumer sentiment fell to its second-lowest level on record in September as high gas prices further soured Americans’ views of the economy.

      cnn.comBluesky2d ago118▲view on Bluesky ↗
    • elerianm.bsky.social

      The divergence between consumer sentiment and economic activity data is widening: The UMich consumer sentiment index fell to 48.1 in September, driven in part by a jump in one-year inflation expectations to 4.6% (up from 4.0% in August). Five-to-ten-year inflation ... 1 of 2

      elerianm.bsky.socialBluesky2d ago20▲view on Bluesky ↗
    all of them →
  2. 1

    Inflation expectations surge to highest level since May

    Consumers' one-year inflation expectations jumped to 4.6% in September from 4.0% in August, the highest reading since May. Five-to-ten-year inflation expectations rose to 3.4%, ending three consecutive months at 3.3% and remaining well above 2024 levels.

    “The short-run outlook for business conditions plunged amid renewed worries that elevated fuel prices and re-escalating trade disputes could pass through to the economy as a whole.”
    — Joanne Hsu
    1. 1 outlet Consumer confidence dips in September amid inflation concerns

      first by The Hill, 2d ago

  3. background

    University of Michigan reports consumer sentiment fell to 4-month low — The University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers index fell to 48.1 in September, down from 51.7 in August, marking the lowest reading in four months and down 15% from January 2026. The decline was driven by concerns about rising prices, elevated fuel costs, and trade disputes.

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 3 outlets Consumer sentiment falls to 4-month low as concerns over inflation mount

    first by Yahoo Finance, 2d ago · also Reuters, Quartz

    2 more headlines
  2. 2 outlets Consumer Sentiment Falls Amid Rising Inflation Worries and Looming Midterms

    first by Breitbart, 2d ago · also Bloomberg Markets

    1 more headline

and 3 smaller pieces

What people are saying 0 voices from 0 sites · best of 3 · verbatim