Industrial volume in August rose by 0.4% to the highest level in 11 months, nearing the record registered last September. The increase was stronger than expected, reflecting a boost from machinery production and mining, which increased by 2% and 1.4%, respectively. Those categories account for more ... READ MORE >
Consumer sentiment
Producer prices, consumer sentiment data show signs of more price stability
Producer price data and consumer sentiment data released Friday showed signs of more price stability, and this good news on the inflation front should keep the economy on track to grow in the third quarter. The producer price index was up 0.3% in July after June's downward revision, according to the ... READ MORE >
Consumer sentiment highest in nearly two years
Consumer sentiment jumped to its highest level since September 2021 on the heels of continuing disinflation and an improved view of household finances, according to the University of Michigan's survey on Friday. The top-line sentiment index increased to 72.6 in July, from 64.4 ... READ MORE >
Consumer sentiment gains on improving inflation expectations
Consumer sentiment increased to 63.9 in June, the highest since March as views on current and future economic conditions improved, according to the University of Michigan index released on Friday. While the index has bounced off the bottom of last June, it remains much lower than the pre-pandemic ... READ MORE >
Are the good times in consumer spending coming to an end?
American consumers have shown remarkable resilience as the economy has rebounded from the depths of the pandemic. Overall spending has remained robust, despite elevated inflation and rising interest rates. But that could be changing. Lower-income consumers have started to show cracks in demand, and that ... READ MORE >
Consumer sentiment fell in March, before the financial turmoil
Consumer sentiment in March dropped to 63.4 from 67 as consumers’ confidence in the current economic conditions and their expectations both worsened on the month, according to the University of Michigan’s survey released Friday. The decline in sentiment, though, was not influenced by the ... READ MORE >
Consumer sentiment falls as outlook worsens
The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index declined by a sharp 5.2 points to 54.7 in the first half of November, slightly above the all-time low in June at 50, according to survey data released Friday. Both sentiment over current conditions and future expectations deteriorated significantly, ... READ MORE >
Consumer sentiment rises to highest level since May
Consumer sentiment improved in September as inflation concerns eased, according to the University of Michigan's index released on Friday. The index rose to 59.5 in September, the highest since May. Still, consumers remain pessimistic compared to before the pandemic, when the long-term average was above ... READ MORE >
University of Michigan survey: Consumer sentiment rises on better economic outlook
U.S. consumer sentiment rose more than expected in August on the back of the sharp drop in gasoline prices, but remains near a record low as consumers shouldered multi-decade-high inflation and continuing economic uncertainty. The University of Michigan's monthly consumer sentiment index increased from ... READ MORE >
Consumer sentiment eases as industrial production falls
Consumer sentiment bounced off a historical low to 51.1 in July from 50.0 in June as gasoline prices eased markedly. That resulted in lower readings for inflation expectations for both the short-term one-year outlook and the long-term five- to 10-year expectations, according to survey data released by ... READ MORE >