Consumer sentiment falls to record low as Iran war fuels inflation fears
Consumer sentiment in the U.S. has reached a historic low, with the University of Michigan's index dropping to 44.8 in May 2026. This decline is largely attributed to rising gasoline prices amid ongoing geopolitical tensions related to the Iran conflict. As energy costs continue to rise, consumer confidence remains fragile, with expectations of inflation still elevated.
- ▪The University of Michigan's consumer confidence gauge hit 44.8 in May, the lowest reading in its 74-year history.
- ▪One-third of survey respondents cited gasoline prices as their top concern affecting their economic outlook.
- ▪Year-ahead inflation expectations slightly improved to 4.5% in May, but consumers remain pessimistic about future economic conditions.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Consumer sentiment falls to record low as Iran war fuels inflation fears The University of Michigan's consumer confidence gauge hit 44.8 in May, the lowest reading in the survey's 74-year history, as soaring gas prices dominate household anxieties. Share Add us on Google by Editorial Team May. 22, 2026 window.sevioads = window.sevioads || []; var sevioads_preferences = []; sevioads_preferences[0] = {}; sevioads_preferences[0].zone = "01f21ccf-2092-46b1-9ac7-8c44cc782e0f"; sevioads_preferences[0].adType = "native"; sevioads_preferences[0].inventoryId = "c5700508-581b-472c-8fdd-a931cdbfc8e1"; sevioads_preferences[0].accountId = "1e47efc1-ec2d-4fca-a8b9-354e249e5095"; sevioads.push(sevioads_preferences); Americans haven’t felt this gloomy about the economy since Eisenhower was in office.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Crypto Briefing.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from Crypto Briefing
