ANN ARBOR—Consumer sentiment fell back for the second consecutive month, reaching a low comparable to its mid-2022 trough, according to the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers. Declines in sentiment were seen across political party, income, age and education, reflecting the broad-based nature of this month’s results. Expected business conditions declined for both the short… Continue reading Consumer confidence is back to mid-2022 lows, with wars, gas and durable high prices
Project: Survey Research Center
Who should pay for older adults’ care? Caregivers answer differently
Levels of concern about costs of long-term care, and access to it, are higher among those who are unpaid caregivers to people over 65, compared with those who aren’t. When it comes to opinions about paying for, and getting access to, care for older adults, direct experience appears to matter a lot, a new University… Continue reading Who should pay for older adults’ care? Caregivers answer differently
Aging and the immune system
New research untangles massive datasets to build tools, uncover clues on how we age WHAT’S THE STUDY: A team of University of Michigan experts in biostatistics, public health, medical research and population studies has received a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, to develop advanced statistical and computational… Continue reading Aging and the immune system
Sentiment falls amid Iran conflict, soaring gas prices
ANN ARBOR—Consumer sentiment fell 6% this month for its lowest reading since December 2025, according to the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers. These declines were seen across age and political party. Consumers with middle and higher incomes and stock wealth, who are buffeted both by escalating gas prices and volatile financial markets, exhibited particularly… Continue reading Sentiment falls amid Iran conflict, soaring gas prices
Michigan Minds podcast: The elder care gap—family duty vs. reality
It begins with a single, panicked phone call about a fallen parent or a flickering memory, but it is quickly becoming the defining white noise of a nation. As the American population ages and family structures splinter, a quiet domestic struggle has escalated into a pressing national inquiry: Who is actually responsible for our elders?… Continue reading Michigan Minds podcast: The elder care gap—family duty vs. reality
The real world impact of ISR research: Jeremy Levine
In this video, Jeremy Levine, Faculty Associate in the Stone Center for Inequality Dynamics at ISR, explains why victim compensation laws often fail to benefit victims of crime. I study the inequalities in the criminal legal system. Specifically, I study laws that are supposed to benefit crime victims. But what I find in my research… Continue reading The real world impact of ISR research: Jeremy Levine
Michigan Minds podcast: Why cooling inflation isn’t saving your bank account
Economist Joanne Hsu, director of the Surveys of Consumers at the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research, specializes in the fields of household finance, consumer sentiment and the impact of economic expectations on the national economy. Hsu joins the Michigan Minds podcast to discuss her findings on current consumer sentiment, offering insight into persistent high… Continue reading Michigan Minds podcast: Why cooling inflation isn’t saving your bank account
Sentiment stagnates, wealth gaps grow
ANN ARBOR—Consumer sentiment stagnated this month with very little change, just 0.2 index points higher than January, according to the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers. All index components posted insignificant movements this month; overall, consumers do not perceive any material change in the economy in February. About 46% of consumers spontaneously mentioned high prices… Continue reading Sentiment stagnates, wealth gaps grow
Justice after trauma? Race, red tape keep sexual assault victims from compensation
ANN ARBOR—Bureaucratic hurdles and racial disparities restrict access to victim compensation for adult survivors of sexual assault, deepen justice system inequities and compound trauma. The absence of police verification of a crime is the primary reason for rejection, representing 34.4% of disapproved requests—which account for roughly 8 out of every 100 applicants, according to a… Continue reading Justice after trauma? Race, red tape keep sexual assault victims from compensation
Researchers use data from Health and Retirement Study to create new health-tracking index for older Americans
ANN ARBOR — Using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), researchers at the University of Michigan and Florida State University have developed a new, 10-item health survey to assess a variety of health conditions. The IAM+ index assesses numerous areas of an individual’s health, including overall health and fitness, eyesight, hearing, and memory.… Continue reading Researchers use data from Health and Retirement Study to create new health-tracking index for older Americans