Core Insights - Consumer sentiment declined by approximately 5% in September compared to August, primarily due to concerns about the job market and persistent inflation, although investors with large stock portfolios remained optimistic [2][6]. Consumer Sentiment Index - The University of Michigan's Consumer Sentiment Index fell to 55.1 in September, which is 21% lower than the same month last year, but still above the levels of around 52 recorded in April and May [4][6]. - The decline in sentiment is attributed to rising worries about unemployment, with 65% of respondents expecting job losses, a significant increase from 35% a year ago [5]. Economic Outlook - The sentiment survey indicates a deteriorating financial outlook for consumers, as highlighted by Survey Director Joanne Hsu [5]. - Despite the decline in sentiment, consumer spending remained resilient in August, as indicated by the Personal Consumption Expenditures report [8]. Inflation and Income Growth - Inflation expectations slightly softened, yet 44% of respondents reported that high prices were eroding their personal savings, the highest level since last November [7]. - Slower income growth, combined with high prices, is expected to restrain consumer spending moving forward [8].

Hi Carl. Indeed, these are final reads for September on University of Michigan sentiment and inflation numbers and expectations for for some improvement. The reality is each one deteriorated on growth.55.1% from 55.4% is the headline number. It's still the weakest going back to May. If we look at the current conditions, 60.4% versus the midmon rate of 61.2%, 2 also lower, but it doesn't change the comp back to May. And if we look at expectations from 51.8% midmon to 51.7%, still the weakest since May as wel ...

Consumer Sentiment and Inflation Expectations - Consumer sentiment has decreased slightly to 55.1%, below the expected 55.4% [2][3] - One-year inflation expectations have been revised down to 4.7% from 4.8% [2] Political Affiliation Trends - Republican consumer sentiment has declined from 96.3% in August to 92.4% in September, with current conditions dropping from 87.4% to 83.7% [5] - Democratic consumer sentiment shows a more positive trend compared to Republicans [5] Economic Data Overview - Recent economic data has generally exceeded street expectations, indicating a resilient economy [10] - Labor market indicators, such as jobless claims, have come in lower than expected, suggesting normalization [11] Market Reactions - Equity markets initially reacted positively to the PCE data, but have since experienced a pullback [15][16] - The PCE data showed core components indicating persistent inflation, with goods prices up 0.1%, services up 0.3%, food up 0.5%, energy up 0.8%, and housing up 0.4% [17] Future Outlook - The upcoming quarter-end options event is expected to increase market volumes and could lead to rotation in equity markets [19][20]

This live blog is refreshed periodically throughout the day with the latest updates from the market. To find the latest Stock Market Today threads, click here. Happy Friday. This is TheStreet's Stock Market Today for Sept. 26, 2025. You can follow the latest updates on the market here in our daily live blog. Update: 10:08 a.m. ET Data Drop: Consumer Sentiment The UM Consumer Sentiment survey just dropped for the month of August, coming in at 55.1, just shy of the 55.4 estimate. At the same time, expecta ...

The monthly survey's sentiment index fell to 55.1 in September, from 58.2 in August amid worries about high prices and the labor market. ...

US Consumer Sentiment Falls to Four-Month Low on Income Worries https://t.co/vFQW7cq1QX ...

Consumer Sentiment - University of Michigan's final Consumer Sentiment Index 下降至 55.1，低于上月的 58.2 [1] - 44% 的受访者表示高物价损害了他们的财务状况 [1] Inflation Expectations - 一年期通胀预期小幅下降至 4.7% [1] - 长期通胀预期上升至 3.7% [1]

Ernest HoffmanErnest Hoffman is a Crypto and Market Reporter for Kitco News. He has over 15 years of experience as a writer, editor, broadcaster and producer for media, educational and cultural organizations. Ernest began working in market news in 2007, establishing the broadcast division of CEP News in Montreal, Canada, where he developed the fastest web-based audio news service in the world and produced economic news videos in partnership with MSN and the TMX. He has a Bachelor's degree Specialization in ...

Core Insights - JD Sports reported an 18% increase in group revenue for the first half of fiscal 2026, reaching 5.94 billion pounds, compared to 5.03 billion pounds in the same period last year [1] - Profit before tax and adjusted items decreased by 13.5% to 351 million pounds from 406 million pounds year-on-year [1] Revenue Performance - The North American business segment experienced a revenue decline of 2.6% to 1.13 billion pounds, although it increased by 1.3% at constant currency [4] - Like-for-like sales in North America fell by 5.2% but showed improved trends quarter on quarter, particularly in apparel and online sales [4] Management Commentary - CEO Régis Schultz emphasized the resilience of the business and anticipated limited impact from U.S. tariffs due to prior inventory purchases [2] - Schultz expressed concerns about customer confidence due to current uncertainties and highlighted unemployment as a key factor affecting young customers, particularly in Europe and the U.K. [3] Market Outlook - The company sees significant opportunities for growth in North America, particularly in the JD brand and its fashion division [5] - Despite challenges, JD Sports expects full-year profit before tax and adjusted items to align with market expectations, estimated between 853 million pounds and 914 million pounds [7] Strategic Focus - The company is focusing on agility, flexible merchandising, and anticipating product cycles to navigate the challenging market environment [6] - Running shoes are identified as a driving category in footwear, with key brands including Saucony, Salomon, On, Hoka, New Balance, Asics, Adidas, and Nike [5]

Economic Overview - The economy is characterized by a bifurcation, with disparities between high-income and low-income consumers, as well as differences in capital expenditure (capex) related to AI versus traditional sectors [2][3] - The stock market reflects these bifurcations, with strong performance in AI infrastructure and data center sectors, while traditional defensive areas are underperforming [3] Currency and International Markets - The dollar has shown weakness, influenced by the Fed's cautious rate outlook and economic data from Germany, with expectations of growth slowing in the US while accelerating in the Eurozone [4][6] - A weak dollar has contributed over 1000 basis points to international stock returns for US investors this year [7] Consumer Sentiment and Spending - There is a noted disconnect between Wall Street performance and the broader economy, with concerns about concentration risk among companies reliant on consumer spending [8] - Consumer sentiment is currently mixed, with robust consumption observed in higher-income brackets, while demand destruction is noted in tariff-impacted goods [10][11] Chinese Market Dynamics - Recent optimism in the Chinese market is highlighted by the Shanghai composite reaching a 10-year high, with a shift in perception from "uninvestable" to potential investment opportunities [12][13] - The MSCI China index has seen a year-to-date gain of over 35%, primarily driven by multiple expansions rather than earnings growth, raising questions about sustainability [14]