Consumer Sentiment Dashboard
This page tracks the consumer’s state of mind through confidence, jobs, inflation pressure, spending, savings, gasoline, and debt-service data. The purpose is not to force one conclusion. The purpose is to show whether households look confident, stretched, defensive, or still willing to spend.
Resilient but selective
The score sits at 66, which frames the consumer as resilient but selective consumer. Read this as a condition map, not a prediction. The strongest area is UMich at 59.5.
Pressure points
The weakest area is Retail at 717,792.1 / YoY 0.8%, which is where the dashboard is showing the most drag.
Economy reflection
When confidence, jobs, and spending rise together, the economy has demand support. When costs, debt service, and weak sentiment dominate, the consumer can still spend, but the quality of that spending becomes more fragile.
Consumer Trend Chart
The composite is a 0 to 100 condition score. Individual buttons show the actual metric scale, so sentiment, unemployment, CPI YoY, retail YoY, gas, savings, and debt service are no longer forced onto incorrect labels.
| Metric | Latest | 6M Change | 12M Change | Percentile | What It Shows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U. Michigan Sentiment FRED / University of Michigan | 59.5 | +9.7 | +14.7 | 100 | Household mood. It shows whether consumers feel confident enough to spend, take risk, and look forward rather than pull back. |
| OECD Consumer Confidence FRED / OECD | 61.8 | +9.3 | +15.8 | 100 | Forward expectations. It helps show whether consumers believe conditions ahead are improving or deteriorating. |
| Unemployment Rate FRED / BLS | 3.8% | +0.2 pts | +0.1 pts | 37.1 | Labor support. A low jobless rate usually keeps income and spending resilient, even when sentiment is not strong. |
| Consumer Price Index FRED / BLS | 325.1 / YoY 3.0% | +4.0 | +9.5 | 65.2 | Inflation pressure. Higher inflation acts like a tax on purchasing power and can weaken confidence. |
| Retail Sales FRED / Census | 717,792.1 / YoY 0.8% | +3,741.0 | +5,785.9 | 4.3 | Actual spending. This shows whether consumers are still putting money through the economy. |
| Personal Saving Rate FRED / BEA | 4.8% | -0.1 pts | +0.6 pts | 60 | Cash buffer. A higher saving rate can show breathing room, while a low rate can show pressure or confidence. |
| Regular Gas Price FRED / EIA | $3.59 | $-0.04 | +$0.25 | 62.9 | Visible daily cost. Gas prices can quickly affect how consumers feel about inflation and discretionary spending. |
| Debt Service Ratio FRED / Federal Reserve | 11.2% | +0.3 pts | +0.4 pts | 74.3 | Balance-sheet strain. Higher debt service means more income is already committed before new spending happens. |