The University of Michigan Consumer Expectations index for the United States inched up in October, signaling a modest improvement in household sentiment toward the economic outlook. The gauge rose to 48.8 in October 2026, up from a previous reading of 47.3 recorded earlier in the same month.
While the index remains below the neutral 50 mark—often seen as the dividing line between pessimism and optimism—the uptick suggests consumers are slightly less downbeat about future economic conditions than they were at the start of the period. The latest figures, updated on 23 October 2026, will be closely watched by markets and policymakers, as consumer expectations often influence spending behavior and, by extension, broader economic momentum.
