Which monthly survey measures U.S. consumer sentiment, conducted by the University of Michigan?

The monthly U.S. consumer survey conducted by the University of Michigan is measured through the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index.

Produced by the university’s Institute for Social Research, the survey gauges households’ views of their personal finances, the general economy, and likely spending conditions. Its questions cover both current conditions and expectations, making it useful as a snapshot of consumer confidence and a possible signal of future consumption.

The project grew from work by University of Michigan economist George Katona in the late 1940s. The index is normalized so that 100 represents its level in the first quarter of 1966. It is commonly reported alongside two related measures: the Index of Current Economic Conditions and the Index of Consumer Expectations.

It is not the same as the Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index. Both track household attitudes, but they use different survey designs and questions. The Michigan expectations measure also has a special role in U.S. economic statistics because it is included in the Department of Commerce’s composite index of leading indicators.