Consumer sentiment falls in August after two previous months of improvement. The final August reading for the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index came in at 51.7. This marks a 6.3% (3.5 points) decrease from July and below the preliminary reading of 51.0. Consumer sentiment sits 11.2% below where it was a year ago and is currently below the 1st percentile in the series' history.
Key Takeaways
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The University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index final reading fell to 51.7 in August, a 6.3% decrease from July.
- The Current Economic Conditions Index fell 5.3% to 51.9, while the Consumer Expectations Index fell 7.0% to 51.5.
- Year-ahead inflation expectations decreased from 4.0% from 4.2% in July.
Joanne Hsu, the director of surveys, made the following comments:
Consumer sentiment confirmed its early month reading, falling about 6% from last month and landing about 11% below a year ago amid continued worries that inflation will remain elevated for the foreseeable future. Sentiment declines in August were seen for all political groups and were particularly acute among Republicans. Moreover, groups who are typically less-equipped to absorb increases in cost of living also exhibited stronger decreases in sentiment, including older consumers, lower- and middle-income consumers, and those with no stock holdings. With ongoing policy uncertainty including the Iran conflict, consumers anticipate further increases in gasoline prices both in the short and long run. In addition to the pocketbook issues that have been central to consumers’ views of the economy, they are increasingly worried that prospects elsewhere in the economy could be weakening. Expected year-ahead business conditions fell back 10%, along with a 13% drop for the five-year horizon. Any re-escalation of trade tensions will likely exacerbate these trends. This release covers interviews completed between July 28 and August 24.
Background on the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index
The Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index is a monthly survey of consumer confidence levels in the U.S. with regards to the economy, personal finances, business conditions, and buying conditions, conducted by the University of Michigan. There are two reports released each month; a preliminary report released mid-month and a final report released at the end of the month.
The chart below provides a long-term perspective on this widely watched indicator. We have highlighted the index's value at the start of each recession. The current level of 51 is below the index's value at the start of all six recessions since its inception.
To put today’s report in historical context, consumer sentiment is currently 38.2% below its average reading of 83.7 (arithmetic mean) and 38.1% below its geometric mean of 82.4, based on data dating back to 1978.
To visualize the volatility and its impact on the broader economy, the following chart includes a three-month moving average and real GDP. Historically, prolonged periods where the moving average remains at these depressed levels have closely correlated with negative GDP growth (the red bars below).
The Political and Presidential Lens of Consumer Sentiment
Each month, the survey results highlight sentiment within each political party. Sentiment is often viewed through a partisan lens, but the data shows that sentiment has fluctuated both positively and negatively under both Republican and Democratic administrations. As the chart below illustrates, the current "plunge" is a rare moment of bipartisan agreement, with declines seen across the political spectrum as energy costs hit every household.
University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index: Components
The Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index consists of two sub-indexes: the Current Economic Conditions Index (CECI) and the Consumer Expectations Index (CEI). The CECI reflects consumers' views of their current financial situation and the overall economy, while the CEI gauges their outlook for the future.
Current Economic Conditions Index (CECI)
The Current Economic Conditions Index fell to 51.9. This represents a 5.3% decrease from the previous month and a 15.9% drop from a year ago. The latest reading was lower than the forecast of 51.8.
Consumer Expectations Index (CEI)
The Consumer Expectations Index fell to 51.5. This represents a 7.0% decrease from the previous month and a 7.9% drop from one year ago. The latest reading was lower than the forecast of 50.6.
University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index: Inflation Expectations
Year-ahead inflation expectations ticked down from 4.2% in July to 4.0%. The current reading substantially exceeds the 3.4% seen in February before the Iran conflict began, along with all 2024 readings. Long-run inflation expectations held steady at 3.3% for the third consecutive month, remaining a bit higher than its 2024 range of 2.8% to 3.2%.
The next update to this report will be published on September 11th.
Other Sentiment Indicators
For an additional perspective on consumer attitudes, see the most recent Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index. Both indexes gauge consumer attitudes toward the current and future strength of the economy. However, the Consumer Confidence Index is more influenced by employment and labor market conditions while the Michigan Sentiment Index is more focused on household finances and the impact of inflation.
The Conference Board index is the more volatile of the two, but the broad pattern and general trends have been remarkably similar to the Michigan index.
And finally, the prevailing mood of the Michigan survey is also similar to the mood of small business owners, as captured by the NFIB business optimism Index (monthly update here).
ETFs associated with sentiment include: Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY).
Read more updates by Jen Nash
