Consumer Sentiment Closes July Down 3.7%

Ann Arbor, MI, July 29, 2016—Consumer sentiment fell 3.7% to 90.0 in July from June’s 93.5, according to the final results from the University of Michigan’s Survey of Consumers. In July 2015, the reading was at 3.3%.

“Although confidence strengthened in late July, for the month as a whole the Sentiment Index was still below last month's level mainly due to increased concerns about economic prospects among upper income households,” said Survey of Consumers chief economist, Richard Curtin. “The Brexit vote was spontaneously mentioned by record numbers of households with incomes in the top third (23%), more than twice as frequently as among households with incomes in the bottom two-thirds (11%). Given the prompt rebound in stock prices as well as the tiny direct impact on U.S. trade, it is surprising that concerns about Brexit remained nearly as high in late July as immediately following the Brexit vote. While concerns about Brexit are likely to quickly recede, weaker prospects for the economy are likely to remain. Uncertainties surrounding global economic prospects and the presidential election will keep consumers more cautious in their expectations for future economic growth. Based on the strength in personal finances and low interest rates, real consumer spending is now expected to rise by 2.6% through mid 2017.”