US consumer sentiment slips to 46.3 in preliminary October survey
The University of Michigan’s preliminary October US consumer survey put sentiment at 46.3, down from 48.1 in September. The university released the figures on October 9; final October data are scheduled for October 23.
News date: 2026-10-09
Checked at: 2026-10-10T02:15:32.625Z (UTC)
The University of Michigan’s preliminary October US consumer survey put sentiment at 46.3, down from 48.1 in September. The university released the figures on October 9; final October data are scheduled for October 23.
Three key points
- The headline sentiment index fell by 1.8 index points from September.
- Current economic conditions fell to 44.7, while expectations rose to 47.3.
- These are preliminary survey readings, rather than a final report or spending totals.
Sentiment and expectations diverge
The university reported weaker buying conditions for durable goods amid prices and borrowing costs. Its expectations index nevertheless edged higher. The components therefore do not all describe the same movement.
How to interpret the release
Trading Economics reproduces the 46.3 reading and identifies Michigan as its source. This is corroboration of the published figure, not an independent survey. The index measures attitudes and cannot alone establish actual sales or future economic growth.
Sources
- University of Michigan — preliminary October results — 2026-10-09 release, checked2026-10-10
- Trading Economics — Michigan consumer sentiment — checked2026-10-10
Image credits
The cover combines the archival campus photograph and conceptual household-shopping drawings. It is not a survey event photograph. Cover adaptation licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. topic.red; Jha4ceb / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY-SA 4.0 (license)
