University of Michigan: Consumer Sentiment (UMCSENT)
University of Michigan: Consumer Sentiment — Historical Chart
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University of Michigan: Consumer Sentiment (FRED series UMCSENT) is a monthly economic indicator measured in index 1966:q1=100. The series is published through FRED, the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis economic database, with history going back to 1952.
Why it matters: University of Michigan: Consumer Sentiment is one of the indicators traders, economists, and policymakers watch within the economic complex. Analysts use it to track conditions in the US economy and to anticipate shifts in growth, inflation, and policy.
How to read it: focus on the direction and persistence of changes rather than any single monthly print. Comparing the latest value against its level a year ago, and against its long-run range since 1952, gives a better sense of whether the series is signaling acceleration, deceleration, or a turning point.
About This Series
At the request of the source, the data is delayed by 1 month. To obtain historical data prior to January 1978, please see FRED data series UMCSENT1. This data should be cited as follows: "Surveys of Consumers, University of Michigan, University of Michigan: Consumer Sentiment © [UMCSENT], retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/UMCSENT/), (Accessed on date)" Copyright, 2016, Surveys of Consumers, University of Michigan. Reprinted with permission.
Recent Data
| Date | Value (Index 1966:Q1=100) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| April 1, 2026 | 49.80 | -3.5 |
| March 1, 2026 | 53.30 | -3.3 |
| February 1, 2026 | 56.60 | +0.2 |
| January 1, 2026 | 56.40 | +3.5 |
| December 1, 2025 | 52.90 | +1.9 |
| November 1, 2025 | 51.00 | -2.6 |
| October 1, 2025 | 53.60 | -1.5 |
| September 1, 2025 | 55.10 | -3.1 |
| August 1, 2025 | 58.20 | -3.5 |
| July 1, 2025 | 61.70 | +1 |
| June 1, 2025 | 60.70 | +8.5 |
| May 1, 2025 | 52.20 | +0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is University of Michigan: Consumer Sentiment today?
The latest value of University of Michigan: Consumer Sentiment (UMCSENT) is shown at the top of this page, along with its observation date and the change from the prior reading. Data is sourced from FRED and refreshed regularly.
How often is University of Michigan: Consumer Sentiment updated?
University of Michigan: Consumer Sentiment is reported monthly (Monthly). New observations appear on FRED shortly after the source agency releases them, and this page updates daily.
What does a rising University of Michigan: Consumer Sentiment mean?
A sustained rise in University of Michigan: Consumer Sentiment signals strengthening readings in this economic measure, in index 1966:q1=100. Whether that is positive or negative for markets depends on context — compare the move against the series’ trend and related indicators in the same category.
Where does the UMCSENT data come from?
The data comes from FRED® (Federal Reserve Economic Data), maintained by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, under series ID UMCSENT. History is available back to 1952.
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- Business Applications: Total for All NAICS in the United States523,971
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Data sourced from FRED®, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis: University of Michigan: Consumer Sentiment (UMCSENT). Retrieved from fred.stlouisfed.org. Last updated May 22, 2026.