The Consumer Expectations Index (CEI) measures the level of confidence or expectations that consumers have about the future state of the economy. The index is based on surveys of consumer attitudes and opinions about their financial situation, job prospects, and the general economic climate.
The CEI is often used as a leading indicator of economic growth because consumer spending is a significant driver of economic activity. When consumers are optimistic about the economy, they are more likely to increase their spending, which in turn stimulates economic growth. On the other hand, when consumer confidence is low, they are likely to cut back on spending, which can slow down economic growth.
The CEI is calculated by taking the percentage of consumers who expect an improvement in economic conditions and subtracting the percentage who expect a decline. The resulting index number represents the overall level of consumer optimism or pessimism. A positive CEI indicates that consumers are optimistic about the economy, while a negative CEI indicates that consumers are pessimistic.
The CEI is released by the University of Michigan. The data is available at the Surveys of Consumers on the University of Michigan website.
| Date | Next year | Next 5 years |
| Apr-23 | 4.6 | 2.9 |
| Mar-23 | 3.6 | 2.9 |
| Feb-23 | 4.1 | 2.9 |
| Jan-23 | 3.9 | 2.9 |
| Dec-22 | 4.4 | 2.9 |
| Nov-22 | 4.9 | 3 |
| Oct-22 | 5 | 2.9 |
| Sep-22 | 4.7 | 4.7 |
| Aug-22 | 4.8 | 2.9 |
| Jul-22 | 5.2 | 2.9 |
| Jun-22 | 5.3 | 3.1 |
| May-22 | 5.3 | 3 |
| Apr-22 | 5.4 | 3 |