Consumers say they are in a sour mood, but their spending habits say something else

Published: Dec. 19, 2025 at 10:33 a.m. ET

The numbers: American consumers were in a foul mood as 2025 drew to a close, and they are skeptical the new year will much better, but the news isn’t all bad. They are still spending plenty of money to keep the economic ball rolling.

A long-running survey of consumer sentiment registered a paltry 52.9 in December, the University of Michigan said Friday, leaving it near a record low.