\n US consumer sentiment fell to its second-lowest level on record in September as high gas prices further soured Americans\u2019 views of the economy.\n <\/p>\n
\n The University of Michigan\u2019s consumer sentiment index for September dipped to 48.1, notching a 7% decline from August and a nearly 13% drop from a year ago, according to data released Friday.\n <\/p>\n
\n The survey dates back to 1952, meaning Americans are feeling worse now than they did during wars, the 1970s oil crisis, 9\/11, the Great Recession, the Covid-19 pandemic and the inflation surge afterward.\n <\/p>\n
\n The four lowest-ever readings for the index all occurred within the past six months (with the record being set in May<\/a>).\n <\/p>\n \n The final reading for September did, however, mark a slight improvement from preliminary readings.\n <\/p>\n \n The closely watched consumer sentiment gauge shows that Americans are deeply unhappy with the state of their personal finances and the broader economy.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cOverall, interviews reveal broad agreement across the political spectrum that the outlook for the economy has weakened since the beginning of the year,\u201d Joanne Hsu, director of the university\u2019s Surveys of Consumers. \u201cAfter particularly large declines in sentiment this month, Republican sentiment is now 20% lower than January 2026; Democrats are down 13% over the same period.\u201d\n <\/p>\n