Consumer Sentiment dipped in March to its lowest point since December, according to University of Michigan’s Survey of Consumers.
“Consumer sentiment fell back 6% this month to its lowest level since December 2025,” according to Surveys of Consumers Director Joanne Hsu. “Declines were seen across age and political party. Consumers with middle and higher incomes and stock wealth, buffeted by both escalating gas prices and volatile financial markets in the wake of the Iran conflict, exhibited particularly large drops in sentiment.
“Overall, the short-run economic outlook plunged 14%, and year-ahead expected personal finances sank 10%, while declines in long-run expectations were more subdued. These patterns suggest that, at this time, consumers may not expect recent negative developments to persist far into the future.”
According to Hsu. interviews for this release were collected between February 17 and March 23, with about two-thirds completed after the start of the US military conflict in Iran.
