Consumer Sentiment under George H. W. Bush
Consumer Sentiment went from 97.9 in George H. W. Bush's first month to 91.0 at month 48: a change of −7.0%. At that point in office it ranks #4 of 9 administrations since 1969. Official data from the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers.
All administrations at month 48
| Rank | Administration | Value at month 48 | Change since month 1 | Latest / end of month 48 | Primary federal source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | George W. Bush | 97.1 | +2.5% | 97.1 (month 48) | University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers · UMCSENT |
| #2 | Bill Clinton | 96.9 | +8.5% | 96.9 (month 48) | University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers · UMCSENT |
| #3 | Ronald Reagan | 92.9 | +30.1% | 92.9 (month 48) | University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers · UMCSENT |
| #4 | George H. W. Bush | 91.0 | −7.0% | 91.0 (month 48) | University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers · UMCSENT |
| #5 | Richard Nixon | 90.7 | — | 90.7 (month 47) | University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers · UMCSENT |
| #6 | Donald Trump (first term) | 80.7 | −18.1% | 80.7 (month 48) | University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers · UMCSENT |
| #7 | Joe Biden | 74.0 | −6.3% | 74.0 (month 48) | University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers · UMCSENT |
| #8 | Barack Obama | 72.9 | +19.1% | 72.9 (month 48) | University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers · UMCSENT |
| #9 | Jimmy Carter | 64.5 | — | 64.5 (month 48) | University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers · UMCSENT |
Methodology and source verification
University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment (1966 = 100), monthly.
Every administration is aligned to its own inauguration: month 1 is the month it took office, and the comparison runs to month 48 (the first term). Each administration is compared at the same month in office, so a president halfway through a term is never measured against another's full four years.
Primary source: University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers. Retrieved from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED), series UMCSENT, refreshed hourly. Latest observation 2026-09-01, first published 2026-09-25. Full methods: methodology.