US Michigan Consumer Sentiment Falls To 47.8 From 51.7 Previously

The University of Michigan consumer sentiment index for the United States registered 47.8 in September, exceeding the 47.6 consensus estimate while remaining below its August reading, according to the release dated September 25, 2026. The index fell from 51.7 in August, after August itself recorded a decline from July’s 55.2, establishing consecutive monthly decreases rather than an improvement in consumers’ overall assessment of their financial circumstances and the economy. September’s reading also matched the 47.8 reported on September 11, leaving the headline unchanged between the two September releases despite the lower consensus estimate attached to the later publication and the decline from August. The survey incorporates assessments of current economic conditions and consumer expectations, but the headline reading alone does not identify which component drove September’s decrease or distinguish changes in personal finances from changes in economic expectations. September sentiment nevertheless remained above May’s 44.8 reading, placing the recent deterioration within a period of fluctuating confidence rather than an uninterrupted decline, with household attitudes providing context for assessments of consumer spending and economic conditions. Subsequent sentiment, retail sales and inflation releases provide separate reference points for monitoring household confidence, actual purchasing activity and price pressures, without treating the sentiment index itself as a direct measure of spending or central bank policy. Updated 9/25/26