Michigan Consumer Sentiment May 2026 Preliminary: Drops to 48.2, a New All-Time Record Low Since 1952

# Michigan Consumer Sentiment May 2026 Preliminary: Drops to 48.2, a New All-Time Record Low Since 1952

> **Quick answer:** The University of Michigan's preliminary consumer sentiment index for May 2026 fell to 48.2 — a new all-time record low in a survey dating back to 1952, down from April's final reading of 49.8. Year-ahead inflation expectations remained at 4.7%, far above actual inflation of 2.7%. About one-third of respondents cited gas prices as a top concern and 30% pointed to tariffs. The reading landed below economist forecasts of 49.3, and declines were broad-based across income, age, education, and political affiliation.

Michigan consumer sentiment May 2026 hit a fresh record low of 48.2, continuing a months-long collapse that has now pushed the index below any reading in the survey's entire 74-year history — including the oil shocks of 1973, the stagflation of 1980, and the peak of the 2008 financial crisis. Released Friday, May 8, the preliminary reading signals that Americans' economic pessimism is deepening even as equity markets post record highs. Here is what the data says, why expectations are so far above actual inflation, and what it means for your finances.

*This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Consult a qualified financial advisor for personal financial decisions.*

## The Numbers: What the May 2026 Preliminary Actually Says

The headline index fell to **48.2** in May from **49.8** in April — a 1.6-point drop that exceeded forecasts of 49.3. The decline marks back-to-back record lows, as April's 49.8 final was already the worst in the survey's history.