AI Data Insight
The newly released US University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index for May 2026 (Q2 2026) dropped to 44.8, significantly lower than the previous reading of 49.8 and market consensus, hitting a record low. Geopolitical conflicts in the Strait of Hormuz have driven up oil prices, leading to a sharp rise in public inflation expectations, which signals that the risk of a slowdown in US consumption momentum and economic recession over the next six months may increase significantly.