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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Consumer sentiment remains below its pre-pandemic level even as the economy and job market have recovered, according to the available summary of University of Michigan data. The latest readings underline the disconnect: the University of Michigan’s August 2026 sentiment index was 51.7, while The Conference Board’s separate confidence index fell to 81.9 in September.
What the latest consumer sentiment figures show
The University of Michigan and The Conference Board both survey consumers, but their indexes are separate measures. Their scores use different constructions and should not be read as if one scale were shared. The University of Michigan’s latest figure available here is for August; The Conference Board’s is for September.
| Survey and reference month | Headline reading | Components |
|---|---|---|
| University of Michigan, August 2026 final results | Index of Consumer Sentiment: 51.7 | Current Economic Conditions: 51.9; Index of Consumer Expectations: 51.5. University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers listed the final results on August 28, 2026. |
| The Conference Board, September 2026 | Consumer Confidence Index: 81.9, down 6.7 points from 88.6 in August | Present Situation Index: 109.3, down 7.9 points; Expectations Index: 63.6, down 5.9 points and the third monthly decline in a row. The Conference Board’s September release reported these results. |
The meaningful comparison is the direction and movement within each survey, not whether 81.9 is numerically higher than 51.7. The Conference Board’s September release describes confidence weakening in both current conditions and expectations, with the expectations index continuing to fall. The University of Michigan page provides an August snapshot, so it does not establish how that series moved in September.
Why can people feel gloomy when the economy and jobs have recovered?
Economic recovery and consumer sentiment measure different things. An improving economy or jobs market does not guarantee that households feel better about prices, their finances, or what lies ahead. The available summary of the October 3, 2026 article says the economy and jobs market recovered after the pandemic, while University of Michigan sentiment did not return to its pre-pandemic level. These indexes record respondents’ assessments and expectations; they do not, on their own, explain the causes of those views.
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In September, The Conference Board said write-in responses frequently mentioned prices, the high cost of goods and services, and oil and gas prices. Politics, trade, and employment also appeared. Those comments indicate concerns people voiced, but they do not prove that any one issue caused the index decline.
What The Conference Board’s subindexes add
The Conference Board’s September figures show why the headline alone can obscure differences in how consumers view the present and the future. The Present Situation Index fell to 109.3, while the Expectations Index was lower at 63.6 and had declined for a third consecutive month.
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Dana M. Peterson, chief economist at The Conference Board, said: “The Consumer Confidence Index deteriorated notably in September, following two prior months of softening.” She also said that current business-condition appraisals “became negative for the first time since September 2024.” These are The Conference Board’s interpretations of its survey findings, not evidence that consumer confidence measures overall economic output or household financial health.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What these indexes do—and do not—measure
The Conference Board says its Consumer Confidence Survey reflects prevailing business conditions and likely developments. It reports consumer attitudes, buying intentions, vacation plans, and expectations for inflation, stock prices, and interest rates. The University of Michigan’s reported measures distinguish current economic conditions from expectations. Neither survey should be mistaken for a direct measure of clinical depression, mental illness, or the financial circumstances of every American.
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Read the measures as signals of how surveyed consumers perceive current conditions and the outlook, rather than as a verdict on whether the economy has recovered. The figures support a clear observation—confidence and sentiment remain weak in these readings—but do not establish a single reason why.
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