Markets closed out the week under pressure as weakening consumer sentiment added another layer of concern to an already volatile environment.

In this episode of Markets with Megan, Verdence CIO Megan Horneman breaks down the latest University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Survey, which showed confidence falling to a three-month low. Both current conditions and future expectations declined, with forward-looking sentiment seeing its largest drop in nearly a year.

At the same time, inflation expectations jumped sharply, with consumers now anticipating 3.8% inflation over the next year — the biggest monthly increase since last year. Rising energy prices tied to geopolitical tensions are beginning to filter into how consumers view both prices and their own financial outlook.

Megan explains why this matters for markets, especially as declining sentiment spreads beyond lower-income households into middle- and higher-income consumers. Combined with ongoing market volatility, this shift could begin to impact spending — a key driver of economic growth.

She also highlights how markets are reacting, with continued weakness across equities and the Nasdaq officially entering correction territory, as investors weigh rising inflation, higher rates, and geopolitical uncertainty.

📊 Could weakening consumer sentiment and rising inflation expectations start to slow spending and impact the broader economy? Watch now for Megan’s perspective.

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https://youtu.be/YdAH6lyzC0A

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