University of Michigan - MarketMinute

Consumer Sentiment

U.S. Consumer Sentiment Reaches 5-Month High of 56.4 in January 2026

Consumer confidence in the United States showed signs of a tentative recovery in early 2026, as the University of Michigan’s preliminary Consumer Sentiment Index climbed to a five-month high of 56.4 in January. While the figure represents a notable improvement from the doldrums of late 2025, it highlights

Copper Shortage

The Impossible Wire: Why 120 Years of Mining History Says the EV Revolution Is Out of Copper

ANN ARBOR, MI — On January 15, 2026, the global automotive industry finds itself at a crossroads that many experts warn is paved with a metal the world simply does not have. As copper prices hover near record highs of $13,000 per metric ton following a volatile 2025 "super-squeeze,

Consumer Spending

Consumer Caution Mounts: Eroding Confidence Poses Headwind for Economic Growth Amidst Fed's Dovish Pivot

The American consumer, a bedrock of economic prosperity, is showing increasing signs of caution, with dwindling confidence and moderated spending growth signaling potential headwinds for the broader economy. Recent data from the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment survey paints a picture of a populace grappling with persistent inflation, a softening