Consumer Sentiment Index
How confident are US consumers about the economy? University of Michigan + OECD data from FRED. Updated monthly.
Michigan vs. Conference Board
Michigan Sentiment & Rolling Averages
How to read consumer sentiment
The University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index surveys ~500 US households monthly on their financial expectations. A reading of 100 was the baseline in 1966. Higher = more optimistic consumers. It's one of the most-watched leading economic indicators.
The OECD Consumer Confidence Index (Conference Board proxy) provides an international comparison. Values above 100 indicate above-average confidence.
Why care? Consumer sentiment is a leading indicator — when people feel confident, they spend more, driving ~70% of US GDP. Sharp drops often precede recessions. The divergence between the two indices can signal conflicting economic signals. 📊
GET /api/consumer-sentiment?range=10y&format=jsonData sourced from FRED (University of Michigan, OECD). Last updated 2026-02-15.