Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Economy Consumer sentiment hits fresh record low in May as Iran war fuels inflation worries
CNBC ^ | May 22, 2026 | Fred Imbert

Posted on 05/22/2026 7:25:12 AM PDT by Miami Rebel

Consumer sentiment has tumbled to a fresh record low in May as fears of higher prices grow due to the U.S.-Iran war and elevated oil prices, the University of Michigan’s Surveys of Consumers said Friday.

The index of consumer sentiment fell to 44.8 from a preliminary reading of 48.2. It’s also well below the 49.8 level seen at the end of April.

“Consumer sentiment fell for the third straight month as supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz continue to boost gasoline prices. Sentiment is now just below the previous historical trough seen in June 2022,” Surveys of Consumers Director Joanne Hsu said in a statement. “Critically, consumers appear worried that inflation will increase and proliferate beyond fuel prices, even in the long run.”

Indeed, inflation expectations over the year ahead rose to 4.8% from 4.7% last month. That’s well above the 3.4% reading seen in February, before the war began.

Longer-term inflation is expected to rise 3.9%, up from a 3.5% reading in April.


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: astroturf; cnbc; consumersentiment; dnctalkingpoint; dnctalkingpoints; fredimbert; inflation; iran; mediawingofthednc; panicporn; partisanmediashill; partisanmediashills; tds; tdstrolls
Message from Jim Robinson:

Dear FRiends,

We need your continuing support to keep FR funded. Your donations are our sole source of funding. No sugar daddies, no advertisers, no paid memberships, no commercial sales, no gimmicks, no tax subsidies. No spam, no pop-ups, no ad trackers.

If you enjoy using FR and agree it's a worthwhile endeavor, please consider making a contribution today:

Click here: to donate by Credit Card

Or here: to donate by PayPal

Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794

Thank you very much and God bless you,

Jim


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-57 last
To: hcmama

“Normal, ordinary hard-working people with families are busted because gas, groceries, health insurance, homeowner’s insurance, and the cost of living in general have all become unaffordable.”

All that heavy traffic in our area must be people looking for work?


41 posted on 05/22/2026 9:19:56 AM PDT by TexasGator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: crz

“The Ford had to return for what reason?”

Eleven months deployed. What is your point.


42 posted on 05/22/2026 9:22:16 AM PDT by TexasGator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: Angelino97

> You don’t think other nations have pride? <

You make a very good point.

A while back I read an article about three Iraqi college students. This was after Bush II’s invasion. The three students were happy Saddam was gone, but other than that they were apolitical.

One day the three were sitting in a Baghdad coffee shop when American soldiers burst in. The soldiers were looking for terrorists. Everyone in the shop was lined up and searched, including the three students.

Foreign troops shoving the natives around. It might have been necessary. But it offended the students so much that they pooled their money, and bought an RPG on the black market. Then they fired the RPG at an American convoy.


43 posted on 05/22/2026 9:24:06 AM PDT by Leaning Right
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: crz
In addition to the list you compiled, I would add this:

To the "bomb them into the Stone Age" and "finish the job" crew, there's a good reason why Trump is hesitant to resume his dumb war.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20260522-us-missile-stocks-depleted-in-defence-of-israel-says-report/

44 posted on 05/22/2026 9:24:14 AM PDT by hcmama (Love that guy.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: TexasGator
Great.

Run on that in November.

45 posted on 05/22/2026 9:30:13 AM PDT by hcmama (Love that guy.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: Angelino97

“History has proven that claim to be false.”

Project AMAD

Ballistic missiles

60% enriched uranium.


46 posted on 05/22/2026 9:36:11 AM PDT by TexasGator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: crz

“4-d chess!” lol


47 posted on 05/22/2026 9:40:33 AM PDT by Longdriver69
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: hcmama

There are initial reports leaking now that Iran might have at least three warheads. Who is helping? North Korea.

North Korea is definitely helping them develope ICBMs.

Now think on this. Why would they develope ICBMs for nothing more than a conventional warhead?

Initial reports. Unconfirmed, most likely will never be confirmed till its to late.

He initiates another attack and them Iranians will destroy every oil facility, every desalination plant, and render that region uninhabitable for at least many years.

Even if they dont have a nuclear warhead, any attempt at another bombing capaign will result in a GLOBAL catastrophe worse than the present catastrophe.

Its pretty simple to solve really. When the Persians got hamstrung at Thermopyle (sic) what’d they do? They went around.
Build pipelines across and around that strait. If nutzyyahoo had any sense, and he doesnt, he’d offer a port facility to recieve shipping for pipelines. What you say? Cant be done? Tell me about the pipelines...like in Alaska.


48 posted on 05/22/2026 9:46:53 AM PDT by crz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: crz

Instead of pipelines, there a small thin Isthmus connecting Ash Shishah Peninsula to the main land in Oman.

They should blast a hole through that and this way ships can bypass the strait entirely.


49 posted on 05/22/2026 10:23:01 AM PDT by qam1 (There's been a huge party. All plates and the bottles are empty, all that's left is the bill to pay)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: qam1

50 posted on 05/22/2026 10:27:41 AM PDT by TexasGator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: crz

😂😂😂…. Youre going to be very angry in November…. But then again youre probably miserable everyday…. being dominated by Trump every day I suspect has that effect on folks👍🏻

TDSanonymous can help you.


51 posted on 05/22/2026 10:34:59 AM PDT by MrRelevant
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: Angelino97
You ignore my observation --

Because it is not pertinent.

As to the rest of your false equivalence, whether Iran has pride worth respecting will depend upon whether its people are willing to overthrow their oppressors.

52 posted on 05/22/2026 11:10:10 AM PDT by Carry_Okie (The tree of liberty needs a rope.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: MrRelevant

Like i said. Cults always fail. Often violenty.

I’ll watch the ass kicking thats coming in November with great amusement.

Untill then. You keep your head down. Never know the one walking up next to you might do.


53 posted on 05/22/2026 11:14:04 AM PDT by crz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: napscoordinator

Indeed. I have seen newspaper headlines from the 80’s saying how close Iran is to getting a nuclear bomb.
Using that as an excuse is ridiculous. Using spreading terrorism across the globe is a viable reason.


54 posted on 05/22/2026 11:17:40 AM PDT by vpintheak (The left is violence.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: crz

Cult😂… smart people just like winners…..bitter losers dont

The man is the greatest President we have had in decades.

Imagine if his own party didnt try at every turn to stop him?

Dead enders like yourself have been wrong so often ,you dont even have the credibility left to accuse someone being in a cult lol. Youre a Fake News™️ addict- get help.


55 posted on 05/22/2026 2:56:24 PM PDT by MrRelevant
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: Carry_Okie
Because it is not pertinent.

When assessing whether Iran is close to having nukes, it is not pertinent to mention that Netanyahu has been claiming for THIRTY YEARS that Iran is close to having nukes?

Is it pertinent to mention that American intelligence has long denied that Iran is close to having nukes?

Or that Mossad said that Iraq was close to having nukes -- and was wrong (or lied?) about that as well?

Yes, let's ignore facts. Let's just follow Israel into yet another Neocon war.

56 posted on 05/22/2026 8:08:14 PM PDT by Angelino97
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

To: Codeflier
I’m sure voting for Democrats will solve all those problems!

Just because Democrats s*** doesn't mean that everything Trump does is awesome.

57 posted on 05/22/2026 8:13:44 PM PDT by Angelino97
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-57 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson