US Michigan Consumer Sentiment Falls To 48.1 From 51.7 In September

The University of Michigan consumer sentiment index for the United States registered 48.1 in September, exceeding the consensus estimate of 47.6 in the September 25 release but remaining below its August reading. The index declined from 51.7 in August to 48.1 in September, following a drop from July’s 55.2, marking a second consecutive monthly decrease in the headline gauge of household confidence in the economy. September’s final reading exceeded the preliminary September 11 figure of 47.8, recording an upward revision within the month even as the comparison with August showed a further deterioration in overall consumer sentiment. The index combines assessments of current economic conditions and consumer expectations, but the headline reading alone does not identify which component drove September’s decline or quantify their separate contributions to the monthly change. September’s reading also fell below April’s 49.8, providing another comparison within the available history and placing household confidence in the broader context of consumer demand, without equating survey responses with actual purchases of goods and services. Subsequent consumer sentiment surveys, retail sales reports and inflation releases offer related measures for tracking household attitudes, spending and purchasing power, while their distinct coverage prevents treating any single indicator as a complete account of consumer conditions. Updated 9/27/26