US University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index Rises to 48.9 in Preliminary June Reading

The preliminary University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index for June 2026 increased to 48.9, up from 44.8 in May, surpassing the consensus forecast of 46.0. This improvement was partly attributed to an early-month easing in gasoline prices. Despite this uptick, consumer sentiment remains relatively subdued, staying 13% below January 2026 levels and 19% lower than a year ago, as consumers continue to express concerns about elevated inflation. One-year inflation expectations eased slightly to 4.6% from 4.8% in May, while long-run inflation expectations fell to 3.4% from 3.9%.