Preliminary Results for September 2022
| Sep | Aug | Sep | M-M | Y-Y | |
| 2022 | 2022 | 2021 | Change | Change | |
| Index of Consumer Sentiment | 59.5 | 58.2 | 72.8 | +2.2% | -18.3% |
| Current Economic Conditions | 58.9 | 58.6 | 80.1 | +0.5% | -26.5% |
| Index of Consumer Expectations | 59.9 | 58.0 | 68.1 | +3.3% | -12.0% |
Featured Chart (PDF)
Next data release: Friday, September 30, 2022 for Final September data at 10am ET
Surveys of Consumers Director Joanne Hsu
Consumer sentiment was essentially unchanged in September, just 1.3 index points above August. The one-year economic outlook continued lifting from the extremely low readings earlier in the summer, but these gains were largely offset by modest declines in the long run outlook. Personal finance components of the index as well as buying conditions for durables remained at similar, relatively low levels from last month. After the marked improvement in sentiment in August, consumers showed signs of uncertainty over the trajectory of the economy.
With continued declines in energy prices, the median expected year-ahead inflation rate declined to 4.6%, the lowest reading since last September. At 2.8%, median long run inflation expectations fell below the 2.9-3.1% range for the first time since July 2021. However, it is unclear if these improvements will persist, as consumers continued to exhibit substantial uncertainty over the future trajectory of prices (see chart). Uncertainty over short-run inflation reached levels last seen in 1982, and uncertainty over long run inflation rose from 3.9 to 4.5 this month, well above the 3.4 level seen last September.
With continued declines in energy prices, the median expected year-ahead inflation rate declined to 4.6%, the lowest reading since last September. At 2.8%, median long run inflation expectations fell below the 2.9-3.1% range for the first time since July 2021. However, it is unclear if these improvements will persist, as consumers continued to exhibit substantial uncertainty over the future trajectory of prices (see chart). Uncertainty over short-run inflation reached levels last seen in 1982, and uncertainty over long run inflation rose from 3.9 to 4.5 this month, well above the 3.4 level seen last September.
