ANN ARBOR—Consumer sentiment rebounded in June to the second-highest level since the start of the pandemic, according to the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers. All of the June gain was among households with incomes above $100,000, and mainly in the way they judged the future economic outlook, said U-M economist Richard Curtin, director of… Continue reading Stronger economy anticipated amid appreciable risks

ANN ARBOR—The April survey recorded continued gains in consumer confidence due to a growing sense that the upward momentum in jobs and incomes is likely to persist, according to the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers. The renewed confidence is due to record federal stimulus spending, both recent and proposed, as well as the positive… Continue reading Record job prospects outweigh inflation concerns

ANN ARBOR—Consumer sentiment rose in March, reaching its highest level in a year—mainly due to the third disbursement of relief checks and better-than-anticipated vaccination progress, according to the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers. As prospects for obtaining vaccination have grown, so too has people’s impatience with isolation, as those concerns were voiced by nearly… Continue reading U-M Surveys of Consumers: Rising employment, inflation anticipated

ANN ARBOR—The Consumer Sentiment Index has shown only relatively small variations since the pandemic started, averaging 81.5 in 2020, marginally above January’s 79.0. Needless to say, Sentiment levels were well below the average of 97.0 from 2017 to 2019, according to the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers. The same relative stability at depressed COVID-19… Continue reading Consumer expectations stabilize despite partisan extremes

ANN ARBOR—Consumer sentiment fell in November due to a sharp decline in economic prospects, according to the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers. The decline was due to the current and expected resurgence in the COVID-19 virus as well as shifts in expectations following the outcome of the presidential election, said U-M economist Richard Curtin,… Continue reading Consumer sentiment: Turning ‘Bah Humbug’ into ‘Happy Holidays’

ANN ARBOR—Consumer sentiment continued to improve in late September, with the Sentiment Index reaching its highest level in six months, according to the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers. It should be noted that the interviewing period ended prior to the presidential debate, said U-M economist Richard Curtin, director of the surveys. The gains were… Continue reading Rising sentiment amid growing uncertainty