Final Results for October 2026
| Oct | Sep | Oct | M-M | Y-Y | |
| 2026 | 2026 | 2025 | Change | Change | |
| Index of Consumer Sentiment | 48.0 | 48.1 | 53.6 | -0.2% | -10.4% |
| Current Economic Conditions | 46.7 | 50.9 | 58.6 | -8.3% | -20.3% |
| Index of Consumer Expectations | 48.8 | 46.3 | 50.3 | +5.4% | -3.0% |
Read our special reports:
10/23/26
Risks of Entrenchment: Long-Run Inflation Expectations in Recent and Longer Historical Context10/9/26
Gasoline Prices and Expected Consumer Spending7/10/26
Sentiment, Web-Based Data Collection, and Partisanship5/22/26
National Estimates Continue to Align With Views of Independents5/8/26
Confidence in Financial Institutions
Next data release: Friday, November 6, 2026 for Preliminary November data at 10am ET
Surveys of Consumers Director Joanne Hsu
Consumer sentiment held steady this month, registering a scant one-tenth of an index point below September. Increases in sentiment among Republicans and Democrats were balanced by declines among independents. While year-ahead business conditions improved about 14%, they stand 16% less than last October’s read. This month’s decline in the Current Conditions subindex was driven entirely by buying conditions for durables, which plunged 18% on the basis of higher interest rates and rising concerns about the affordability of such purchases. Purchasing power continues to dominate consumer views of the economy. Sentiment is now 10% below a year ago and 15% less than February, just prior to the Iran conflict.
Year-ahead inflation expectations ticked up from 4.6% last month to 4.7% this month. The current reading substantially exceeds the 3.4% seen in February before the Iran conflict began, along with all 2024 readings. Long-run inflation expectations also stepped up from 3.4% in September to 3.5%, notably higher than their 2024 range of 2.8% to 3.2%. Inflation expectations over both time horizons increased for the second straight month to their highest readings since May. See today’s special report for additional historical context for long-run inflation expectations.
Year-ahead inflation expectations ticked up from 4.6% last month to 4.7% this month. The current reading substantially exceeds the 3.4% seen in February before the Iran conflict began, along with all 2024 readings. Long-run inflation expectations also stepped up from 3.4% in September to 3.5%, notably higher than their 2024 range of 2.8% to 3.2%. Inflation expectations over both time horizons increased for the second straight month to their highest readings since May. See today’s special report for additional historical context for long-run inflation expectations.