President Donald Trump recently claimed that “consumer confidence is way up” during a White House event focused on the economy. However, major economic indicators and long-running consumer surveys do not support that statement.
According to a PolitiFact review, three widely used measures of consumer confidence showed Americans remained pessimistic about the economy during the period Trump referenced. (politifact.com)
One of the most closely watched indicators, the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index, recorded a score of 53.3 in March 2026. Economists noted this was the ninth-lowest reading since the survey began monthly tracking in 1978. Five of the nine worst readings occurred during Trump’s second term. (politifact.com)
The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index also showed declining public optimism about economic conditions. In addition, aggregated polling data measuring public approval of Trump’s handling of the economy reflected weakening sentiment rather than rising confidence. (politifact.com)
The White House pointed to strong retail sales as evidence supporting Trump’s claim. However, economists cautioned that higher retail spending does not necessarily indicate confidence or optimism. In some cases, increased spending can reflect higher prices caused by inflation or tariffs rather than stronger consumer sentiment. (politifact.com)
PolitiFact also reported that inflation-adjusted consumer spending had trended downward during Trump’s second term, contradicting the idea that Americans felt significantly more financially secure. (politifact.com)
Separate economic reporting showed that consumer concerns about inflation remained elevated throughout 2025 and 2026, especially surrounding tariffs and rising prices. Surveys found that many Americans expected inflation to worsen in the near future. (politifact.com)
Although some economic indicators, including certain retail metrics, remained relatively strong, the broader consensus among traditional confidence measures contradicted Trump’s statement that consumer confidence was “way up.”
PolitiFact rated the claim false because the major benchmarks used to assess consumer confidence showed the opposite trend. (politifact.com)
Final Verdict: False
References:
https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2026/may/06/donald-trump/consumer-confidence-sentiment-spending-second-term/
https://www.politifact.com/article/2025/apr/28/trump-100-days-economy-consumer-confidence/