{
  "id": 16208170,
  "title": "US consumer sentiment near record low ahead of midterm elections",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/23/us-consumer-sentiment-near-record-low-ahead-of-midterm-elections-16208170",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-23T17:47:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/world/20261024/us-consumer-sentiment-near-record-low-ahead-of-midterm-elections"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "U.S. consumer sentiment dropped to near a record low in October, according to a survey released on Friday. The University of Michigan's Surveys of Consumers reported the Consumer Sentiment Index at 48.0, down from 48.1 in September. Economists had predicted the index to be 46.3, which was also the preliminary reading for October at that time. This reading marked the second-lowest on record, only surpassing the all-time low of 44.8 set in May following the start of the Iran war. Joanne Hsu, the director of the Surveys of Consumers, noted that purchasing power remains a major concern for consumers when it comes to the economy. The sentiment has fallen 10 percent compared to last year and 15 percent less than in February, just before the Iran conflict began. The survey's results align with political polling data suggesting that voters have a negative view of the economy and President Donald Trump's and the Republican Party's handling of affairs.",
  "summary": "U.S. consumer sentiment edged down to near a record low in October as rising prices because of the Middle East conflict soured households' views of the economy on the doorstep of midterm congressional elections centering on affordability issues, a survey showed on Friday. The University of Michigan's Surveys of Consumers said its Consumer Sentiment Index dropped to 48.0 this month from a final…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "US consumer sentiment hits a near-record low before midterm elections",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/23/us-consumer-sentiment-hits-a-near-record-low-before-midterm-elections",
        "published": "2026-10-23T17:26:21.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}