US Consumer Sentiment Plummets Amid Economic Headwinds

US Consumer Sentiment Plummets Amid Economic Headwinds
US consumer sentiment collapsed approximately 11 percent this month, marking a significant deterioration that extends a downward trend initiated by the Iran conflict. The preliminary April sentiment index dropped sharply to 47.6 from 53.3 in March, representing a roughly 9 percent decline compared to a year ago. Concurrent with this sentiment decline, inflation expectations have risen while current economic conditions hit record lows. The current financial situation index reached its lowest level since March 2009, signaling deep consumer anxiety about personal financial health. Meanwhile, Canada's economy contracted 0.6 percent annualized in the final quarter of 2025, according to Statistics Canada data released in late February.