University of Michigan consumer sentiment index falls to record low in May
The University of Michigan's Index of Consumer Sentiment dropped to 44.8 in May, marking an all-time low and the third consecutive monthly decline. The decline was driven primarily by concerns over high gasoline prices resulting from the conflict with Iran and broader cost-of-living pressures, with 57% of consumers reporting that high prices are eroding their personal finances.
12
Divergence score
6 outlets covered it, splitting into 5 framing camps across 3 bias groups.
5 camps
3 bias groups
Market signalBETA
The spectrum · how 6 outlets placed this story
LeftCenterRight
CNN
Breitbart
Wall Street Journal
The Hill
Reuters
Semafor
Supportive of action
Neutral
Dismissive
Critical
Alarmist
International angle
Widest split · the two outlets furthest apart, and who published first
Furthest apart on this story
CNN
High gas prices, cost of living send US consumer sentiment to all-time low | CNN Business - CNN
emotional impact and historical comparison · negative
Breitbart
Consumer Sentiment Falls To Record Low on Gas Prices, Inflation Fears
data-driven with political angle · neutral
First to report
- Reutersfirst
- CNN+5.6 h
- Breitbart+5.8 h
- Wall Street Journal+5.8 h
- The Hill+8.3 h
- Semafor+61.8 h
By each outlet's earliest publish time in this story. Feeds that index slowly can appear later than they printed.
The split, in one line
All outlets report the same core data and trends. CNN frames this as consumer hatred of the economy and emphasizes historical severity; others stick to the sentiment index figure and Iran war link without the emotional language.
How each outlet covered it
Broad agreement on what happened
Outlets across the spectrum land in roughly the same place: the shared language is highlighted.
THE LEFT
“High gas prices, cost of living send US consumer sentiment to all-time low | CNN Business - CNN”CNN CNN LEFT
12LOW DIVERGENCE
THE RIGHT
“Consumer Sentiment Drops to New Low, University of Michigan Survey Finds - WSJ”WSJ Wall Street Journal RIGHT-CENTER
DOWN THE MIDDLE
“Angst over rising cost of living pushes US consumer sentiment to record low” · The Hill, Reuters
+Hide the full sourcingSee how all 6 outlets put it
CENTER3
HThe Hill Consumer sentiment slips to record low: survey 112d ago RReuters Angst over rising cost of living pushes US consumer sentiment to record low 112d ago SEMSemafor US consumer sentiment falls as Dow hits record - Semafor 110d ago 7 tracked claims across 6 outlets
Fact ledger
All7Claimed2Corroborated5
1/6
Claimed
The current sentiment level is below all previous historical troughs including the Great Recession, 9/11, and COVID-19 pandemic
Corroborated
Disputed
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