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4h ago

U.S. Consumer Sentiment Holds Near 55 as Shutdown Enters Second Week

Inflation worries alongside weakening hiring kept the reading depressed.

In recent years, consumer sentiment has not been a good predictor of future spending.
A man shops in the appliance section at a Home Depot in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 15, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
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Overview

  • The University of Michigan’s preliminary October index registered 55.0, essentially unchanged from September’s 55.1.
  • Survey director Joanne Hsu reported that high prices and deteriorating job prospects remain the chief concerns for households.
  • One-year inflation expectations eased to 4.6% while the five-year outlook held steady at 3.7%.
  • Interviews in the survey show little evidence that the ongoing partial federal shutdown has shifted consumers’ views so far.
  • The shutdown, now around its 10th day, has paused key federal economic releases, pushing investors to rely on private surveys even as some spending indicators show resilience.