Consumers’ view of the U.S. economy has been shaped by the ongoing conflict between the U.S. and Iran, which has boosted inflation in large part due to rising energy prices. The uncertain timeline for an end to the conflict has in turn led to an uncertain economic outlook, including by those at the Federal Reserve.…
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Consumer sentiment experienced a third consecutive month of decline this month, per the University of Michigan’s closely watched survey of consumers. Consumer sentiment went from 49.8 in April to 44.8 in May, a 10% drop. The dramatic decline underscores how severely the Iran conflict, combined with soaring energy prices and trade uncertainty, has eroded American…
The economy has seen numerous challenges over the past few months, from a soft but improving labor market to high inflation. The latter, largely attributed to the ongoing U.S.-Iran War and resulting energy price spikes, has also driven mortgage rates upward, and the Federal Reserve has signaled willingness to increase interest rates if inflation continues…
We are now five months into 2026—rapidly approaching the halfway point—and so far the year has thrown some definite curveballs at the real estate industry. This year was widely expected to be a year of stabilization and normalization for the housing market, and Q1 (January-March) is largely the stage-setter for how the rest of the…
Editor’s note: Econ Review is a roundup of the month’s housing and economic market data reports. As spring progresses, the industry is awaiting data related to how the season shaped up ahead of another potential boom in activity over the upcoming summer. Here are some highlights from the housing and economic data that hit the…
Nonprofit business research organization The Conference Board released its latest Leading Economic Index (LEI)—which provides an early indication of significant turning points in the business cycle and where the economy is heading—showing a decline of 0.6% in March 2026, more than reversing its 0.3% increase in February. Overall, the LEI fell by 1.0% over the…
As the conflict with Iran has loomed over the heads of consumers and over the economy, the two-week ceasefire in April contributed to some relief in consumer views, according to the latest data from The Conference Board. The Consumer Confidence Index® saw a 0.6 point increase to 92.8 in April (baseline of 100 is based…
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Consumer views on the economy continue to muddle for another month as the Iranian conflict looms over oil and gas prices, according to the latest Survey of Consumers from the University of Michigan. The index of Consumer Sentiment fell 6.6% month-over-month to 49.8 (from 53.3 in March), down 4.6% year-over-year and is “now comparable to…
In a rebound from February’s downcast numbers, a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on April 3 showed the U.S. economy gaining 178,000 jobs in March, with the unemployment rate sliding slightly to 4.3%. Job gains occurred in healthcare, construction and in transportation and warehousing. Federal government employment continued to decline. Average wages were…
Despite ongoing economic impacts surrounding the U.S. and Iran war, monthly consumer confidence as surveyed by the nonprofit Conference Board ticked up in March 2026. The survey, with results collected between March 1-24 (entirely during the Iran war), found that consumer confidence ticked up to 91.8 in March, up from the revised February findings of…
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