ANN ARBOR—Consumer sentiment improved for the second time in six months, inching up less than 2% from last month, according to the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers. It remains about 17% below December 2024, when sentiment had exhibited a post-election bump. Current conditions rose about 5% to its highest reading since February 2025, while… Continue reading Sentiment inches up, consumers remain downbeat
News Tag: Economic Behavior
Sentiment up for the first time this year, consumers remain guarded
ANN ARBOR—Consumer sentiment improved for the first time in six months, climbing 16% from last month but remaining about 18% below December 2024, when sentiment had exhibited a post-election bump. These trends were unanimously visible across age, income, wealth, political party and geographic region. Improvements in June were seen across multiple dimensions of the economy,… Continue reading Sentiment up for the first time this year, consumers remain guarded
The economic effects of federal cuts to US science — in 24 graphs
Federal cuts to research institutions have ripple effects beyond laboratories and classrooms. Jason Owen-Smith estimates that federal grants support 646,000 researchers, 48% of whom are students and trainees. And people and businesses outside of academic institutions are also impacted, “A whole lot of businesses in a really wide range of industries, from local restaurants to… Continue reading The economic effects of federal cuts to US science — in 24 graphs
Michigan residents feeling economic squeeze as consumer confidence fluctuates
Consumer confidence fell by almost 30% from December 2024 to May 2025, leading to shorter stays & dining out less frequently at Michigan tourist destinations. Surveys of Consumers director, Joanne Hsu, told Fox 47 News, The same factor that has been in place since the tail end of the pandemic, and that is purchasing power… Continue reading Michigan residents feeling economic squeeze as consumer confidence fluctuates
Cuts to US government raise worries over economic data quality
Economists are increasingly concerned that efforts by DOGE to cut the size of the government will lead to the loss of expert statisticians. Matthew Shapiro told the Financial Times, “The [push for federal staff to take] early retirements might lead to a lot of highly expert human capital walking out the door.” Shapiro also believes a new executive… Continue reading Cuts to US government raise worries over economic data quality
U.S. Consumer Sentiment Drops as Inflation Anxiety Soars
New data from the Surveys of Consumers shows consumer sentiment falling by 11% in March among Americans of all ages, income groups and political affiliations. In the New York Times, Joanne Hsu said, “Many consumers cited the high level of uncertainty around policy and other economic factors; frequent gyrations in economic policies make it very difficult for consumers to plan… Continue reading U.S. Consumer Sentiment Drops as Inflation Anxiety Soars
American travelers are booking fewer domestic flights in another warning sign for the economy
Fewer Americans are traveling by air, especially domestically, due to increasing worries about recession. Joanne Hsu, director of the Surveys of Consumers, says this isn’t a distress signal the way car loan defaults would be, but, “It’s a sign consumers may not be as willing to spend as freely as they have in previous years. … It… Continue reading American travelers are booking fewer domestic flights in another warning sign for the economy
Federal workers’ salaries represent less than 5% of federal spending and 1% of GDP
Government layoffs are at their highest level since 2020 and not only do these salaries consist of a tiny fraction of the government budget, many of the laid off workers make our economy and financial system run efficiently. Matthew Shapiro told Marketplace: When there’s a bank failure, we have federal employees who — as we saw a few… Continue reading Federal workers’ salaries represent less than 5% of federal spending and 1% of GDP
Stateside Podcast: Consumer confidence suffered in February, U-M says
Surveys of Consumers director, Joanne Hsu, joined Michigan Public’s Stateside to discuss February’s sharp drop in consumer sentiment. Consumers are aware about the news around tariffs, even amid all the other news that’s happening in the country and in the world right now, and specifically when we look at the major events over the last couple of months… Continue reading Stateside Podcast: Consumer confidence suffered in February, U-M says
Why consumers are not feeling optimistic about the economy, and what the data says
The latest numbers from the Surveys of Consumers show a decrease in consumer sentiment. On National Public Radio’s Weekend Edition, Joanne Hsu said people worrying about where prices are headed: “We’ve seen two consecutive months of sizable increases in inflation expectations, both for the short run as well as the long run. People are really concerned that inflation could come… Continue reading Why consumers are not feeling optimistic about the economy, and what the data says