Preliminary Results for September 2026
| Sep | Aug | Sep | M-M | Y-Y | |
| 2026 | 2026 | 2025 | Change | Change | |
| Index of Consumer Sentiment | 47.8 | 51.7 | 55.1 | -7.5% | -13.2% |
| Current Economic Conditions | 50.9 | 51.9 | 60.4 | -1.9% | -15.7% |
| Index of Consumer Expectations | 45.8 | 51.5 | 51.7 | -11.1% | -11.4% |
Read our special reports:
7/10/26
Sentiment, Web-Based Data Collection, and Partisanship4/11/25
Partisan Perceptions and Sentiment Measurement5/22/26
National Estimates Continue to Align With Views of Independents5/8/26
Confidence in Financial Institutions1/23/26
January 2026 Update: Current versus Pre-Pandemic Long-Run Inflation Expectations
Next data release: Friday, September 25, 2026 for Final September data at 10am ET
Surveys of Consumers Director Joanne Hsu
Consumer sentiment receded less than 4 index points for the second consecutive month of decreases. Democrats and Republicans alike posted sizable declines, while independents were little changed from August. Year-ahead expectations for both personal finances and business conditions plunged. With a resurgence in fuel prices and trade tensions, consumers anticipate greater pressures on their pocketbooks to come. Five-year expected business conditions remained stable at readings well below their historical average, suggesting that consumers believe that emerging risks this month may not have further worsened the long-run outlook. Overall, sentiment is now 16% below February, prior to the start of the Iran conflict, and 13% lower than a year ago.
Year-ahead inflation expectations jumped from 4.0% last month to 4.6% this month, the highest reading since June. 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 ticked up to 3.4%, ending three consecutive months at 3.3%. These expectations remain higher than their 2024 range of 2.8% to 3.2%.
Year-ahead inflation expectations jumped from 4.0% last month to 4.6% this month, the highest reading since June. 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 ticked up to 3.4%, ending three consecutive months at 3.3%. These expectations remain higher than their 2024 range of 2.8% to 3.2%.