- United States consumer sentiment fell to a record low in May 2026 as rising costs and high pump prices heavily weighed on the public outlook
- Long-term inflation expectations among Americans rose to 3.9 percent in May up from 3.5 percent in April marking the highest level since October 2025
- Rising costs stemming from the United States-Iran war and elevated fuel prices have severely dragged down consumer confidence below levels seen during the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2008 financial crisis
United States consumer sentiment drops to record low as inflation expectations surge
May 22, 2026, 3:52:12 PM UTC(5 hours ago)
Impact: Very High
Affected Assets
Sources
From:@YahooFinance
Americans are feeling worse about the economy now than they were during the COVID-19 pandemic, the financial crisis, and following the 9/11 attacks. https://t.co/CasIyXKKxW https://t.co/kysAdXnlF0