Washington, U.S. – October 10, 2025
The preliminary University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index for October registered a score of 55.0, a slight dip from September’s 55.1, signaling relative stability in public economic confidence.
Survey findings suggest that while inflation and job market uncertainty remain top concerns for households, the ongoing federal government shutdown has had minimal impact on consumer views so far.
The shutdown, which began on September 30, has delayed the release of critical economic data such as the September employment report.
Consumers’ short-term inflation expectations eased slightly from 4.7% in September to 4.6% in October, while long-term expectations held steady at 3.7%.
Meanwhile, the labor market shows signs of softening. Job growth had slowed heading into August, and consumers continue to voice anxiety over potential job losses.
Some economists caution that continued gridlock in Washington or a prolonged shutdown could erode sentiment further in subsequent readings.