Consumer Sentiment Falls 6% in Final August Reading, Ending Two-Month Rebound

Index revised up from the preliminary figure but 11% below a year ago as inflation and gas-price worries persist.

Consumer sentiment fell 6.3% in August in the final reading from the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers, with the Index of Consumer Sentiment landing at 51.7, down from 55.2 in July and 11.2% below the 58.2 recorded in August 2025. The final figure was revised up from the preliminary August reading of 51.0 released Aug. 14, but the decline ends two consecutive months of improvement.

Consumer sentiment is considered a leading indicator of economic activity, and the gauge bears on