U.S. Consumer Sentiment Drops to 53.3 in March

U.S. consumer sentiment plunged to its lowest level in over three months in March, driven by surging energy prices and financial market volatility stemming from the ongoing military conflict in Iran, according to a survey released Friday by the University of Michigan.

The final reading of the Consumer Sentiment Index fell 6 percent to 53.3, down from 56.6 in February and marking the lowest figure since December 2025. The index, which gauges Americans' views on the economy and personal finances, had shown gains in the prior three months but erased those improvements entirely. Compared to March 2025, the index is now 6.5 percent lower.

The decline reflected broad unease across demographics, including age groups, income levels and political affiliations. Middle- and higher-income households, particularly those with stock investments, reported the sharpest drops, battered by escalating gasoline costs and turbulent stock markets. About two-thirds of the survey interviews occurred after the U.S. military intervention in Iran began on February 28.

Within the index, the measure of current economic conditions slipped 1.4 percent to 55.8, while the forward-looking expectations index...