University of Michigan reports consumer sentiment hits all-time low at 44.8
The University of Michigan has reported that consumer sentiment has reached an all-time low of 44.8, marking a significant decline from the previous month. This drop is largely attributed to rising gasoline prices, with 57% of respondents citing high essential costs as a major concern. Despite the pessimism among consumers, markets such as Bitcoin and the Nasdaq have continued to rally, indicating a divergence between consumer sentiment and institutional investment behavior.
- ▪The Index of Consumer Sentiment fell to 44.8 in May 2026, a 10% decrease from April's 49.8.
- ▪Gasoline prices have surged due to supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, impacting consumer finances.
- ▪One-year inflation expectations increased to 4.8%, while five-year expectations rose to 3.9%, indicating long-term concerns about rising prices.
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University of Michigan reports consumer sentiment hits all-time low at 44.8 The lowest reading in the survey's 70-plus year history arrives as gasoline prices surge, yet Bitcoin and Nasdaq keep rallying in a puzzling divergence. 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); American consumers haven’t been this pessimistic since the University of Michigan started asking them how…
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