Shafaqna English– A Friday(11 Sep 2026) survey showed U.S. consumer sentiment worsened in early September as higher gasoline prices and trade tensions fueled fears of rising inflation over the next year. The University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Index slipped to 47.8 from 51.7 in August, missing the 51.0 estimate from economists polled by Reuters.
Sentiment declined among Democrats and Republicans but changed little among Independents. Joanne Hsu, the Surveys of Consumers director, said consumers expect more pressure on their finances from resurgent fuel prices and trade tensions.
The survey’s one-year inflation expectation rose to 4.6% from 4.0%, up from 3.4% in February before the U.S.-led war with Iran, while five-year expectations increased slightly to 3.4% from 3.3%, above the 2024 range of 2.8% to 3.2%.
Source: Reuters