Final Results for April 2026
| Apr | Mar | Apr | M-M | Y-Y | |
| 2026 | 2026 | 2025 | Change | Change | |
| Index of Consumer Sentiment | 49.8 | 53.3 | 52.2 | -6.6% | -4.6% |
| Current Economic Conditions | 52.5 | 55.8 | 59.8 | -5.9% | -12.2% |
| Index of Consumer Expectations | 48.1 | 51.7 | 47.3 | -7.0% | +1.7% |
Read our special reports:
1/23/26
January 2026 Update: Current versus Pre-Pandemic Long-Run Inflation Expectations11/21/25
National Estimates Continue to Align With Views of Independents
Next data release: Friday, May 08, 2026 for Preliminary May data at 10am ET
Surveys of Consumers Director Joanne Hsu
Consumer sentiment ticked down 3.5 index points this month, now comparable to the trough seen in June 2022. Decreases in sentiment were seen across political party, income, age, and education. Expected business conditions declined for both short and long time horizons, nearly matching year-ago readings when the reciprocal tariff regime was implemented. After the two-week cease-fire was announced and gas prices softened a touch, sentiment recovered a modest portion of its early-month losses. The Iran conflict appears to influence consumer views primarily through shocks to gasoline and potentially other prices. In contrast, military and diplomatic developments that do not lift supply constraints or lower energy prices are unlikely to buoy consumers.
Year-ahead inflation expectations surged from 3.8% in March to 4.7% this month, the largest one-month increase since April 2025. The current reading exceeds those seen in 2024 and remains well above the 2.3-3.0% range seen in the two years pre-pandemic. After hovering between 3.2 and 3.3% for the previous four months, long-run inflation expectations climbed to 3.5% in April, the highest reading since October 2025. In 2024, values ranged between 2.8% and 3.2%, while in 2019 and 2020, they were consistently below 2.8%.
Year-ahead inflation expectations surged from 3.8% in March to 4.7% this month, the largest one-month increase since April 2025. The current reading exceeds those seen in 2024 and remains well above the 2.3-3.0% range seen in the two years pre-pandemic. After hovering between 3.2 and 3.3% for the previous four months, long-run inflation expectations climbed to 3.5% in April, the highest reading since October 2025. In 2024, values ranged between 2.8% and 3.2%, while in 2019 and 2020, they were consistently below 2.8%.