economy
Consumer sentiment hits record low, inflation fears rise amid Iran war
The university's headline index of consumer sentiment tumbled to 47.6, down 10.7% from March to its lowest on record.
TL;DR
- Consumer sentiment index hit a record low of 47.6 in April, a 10.7% decrease from March.
- Inflation expectations rose to 4.8% for the next year, the highest since August 2025.
- Consumers blamed the Iran conflict for unfavorable economic changes, though most interviews were before a ceasefire.
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a 0.9% rise in the consumer price index for March, with energy prices being the primary driver.
- Five-year inflation expectations also increased to 3.4%.