January Michigan Consumer Sentiment Revised Up from Preliminary Print, Higher Than December

10:08 AM EST, 01/23/2026 (MT Newswires) -- The University of Michigan consumer sentiment index was revised up Friday to a reading of 56.4 for January from the 54.0 print in the preliminary estimate, compared with expectations for no revision in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

That was still above the final reading of 52.9 in December.

The current conditions index was revised up to 55.4 from a 52.4 preliminary estimate, well above the 50.4 reading in December, while the expectations index was revised up to 57.0 from 55.0. The index was 54.6 in December.

Respondents expected a 4.0% inflation rate over the next year, down from 4.2% in December, and 3.3% annual inflation over the next five years, up from 3.2% in the previous month.

The Conference Board said that improvement was widespread across all income and educational groups, ages and political affiliations. Still, confidence is below its year-ago level due to higher prices and a weakening labor market.

Consumers did not appear to be concerned about foreign developments, and the Conference Board note that interviews for the report concluded on Jan. 19, two days after the announcement of additional tariffs on eight European countries.

The twice-monthly Michigan Sentiment index measures consumer sentiment early in the current month (the preliminary estimate) and is then revised later in the month (the final estimate).

The headline index is a combination of the current assessment and expectations for the near future. An increase in the reading suggests consumers are more confident, a positive for stocks if that confidence translates into spending. Increased demand is usually inflationary, a negative for bonds.

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