Consumer Sentiment Up 12.7% in Early July

July 14, 2023 from Floor Focus FloorDaily News

Ann Arbor, MI, July 14, 2023 – Consumer sentiment rose 12.7% to 72.6 in early July, according to preliminary results from the University of Michigan Survey of Consumers.

This represents a 41% increase year over year.

“Consumer sentiment rose for the second straight month, soaring 13% above June and reaching its most favorable reading since September 2021,” according to Survey of Consumers director Joanne Hsu. “All components of the index improved considerably, led by a 19% surge in long-term business conditions and 16% increase in short-run business conditions. Overall, sentiment climbed for all demographic groups except for lower-income consumers. The sharp rise in sentiment was largely attributable to the continued slowdown in inflation along with stability in labor markets. As seen in the chart, sentiment is now about halfway between the all-time historic low of 50 from June 2022 and the February 2020 pre-pandemic reading of 101.

“Year-ahead inflation expectations were little changed, inching up from 3.3% in June to 3.4% in July and down from the high point of 5.4% from April 2022. Long-run inflation expectations were also virtually unchanged from June at 3.1%, again staying within the narrow 2.9-3.1% range for 23 of the last 24 months.”