In September, consumers’ assessments of their financial situation were slightly more positive than in August.

This expectation has recovered 60% of ground lost in April. Their outlook for the economy as a whole was even more positive in August, reaching a level about 75% higher than the nadir in April.

However, pessimism increased again in September so this sub-index has now only recovered two-thirds of what was lost in April.

Pessimism is strongest in concerns over unemployment, which climbed the most in April, and, after three months of improvement, negative sentiment rose slightly in August and at a faster rate in September.

Households’ assessments of their future ability to make savings remained unchanged from the previous month. Inflation expectations continued to wane, but expectations of their ability to make big-ticket purchases deteriorated.