U.S. Consumer Sentiment Down 27% Since January Among Bottom Third of Stockholders and 25% Among...

Since January 2026, U.S. consumer sentiment is down 27% among the bottom 33% of stockholders, the largest decline among the stock-wealth groups surveyed. It is followed by those who do not own stocks, whose sentiment is down 25% over the same period.
By comparison, sentiment is down just 9% among the middle 33% and 7% among the top 33% of stockholders.
According to the author, asset ownership has helped offset the impact of higher living costs, leaving consumers with fewer or no stocks more exposed to the recent acceleration in inflation.
Meanwhile, 1-year consumer inflation expectations rose 0.1 percentage point this month to 4.7%, the second-highest reading since August 2025.