Consumer sentiment down amid disagreements on new government policies
January 24, 2025
ANN ARBOR—Consumer sentiment fell for the first time in six months, edging down 4% from December.While assessments of personal finances inched up for the fifth consecutive month, both the short- and long-run business outlook weakened in January, said economist Joanne Hsu, director of the...
Joanne Hsu discusses the political divide in consumer sentiment
January 21, 2025
While the overall economy is good – inflation and unemployment are down and wages are up – consumers have not been feeling great. Now that political power is changing, so is spending and consumer sentiment.Joanne Hsu told Marketplace, “Republicans believe Trump’s...
Dementia Cases in the U.S. Will Surge in the Coming Decades, Researchers Say
January 15, 2025
A new study in Nature Medicine finds the lifetime risk of dementia is likely to double over the next 35 years, primarily due to the growing aging population. Ken Langa, who was not an author on the study, told the New York Times, “Even if the rate is significantly lower...
Wayne-Westland schools combat Pandemic learning loss with literacy coaches to boost 3rd-grade reading
January 14, 2025
Third grade is a critical year for learning as it can determine how well they do for the rest of their academic lives. The Michigan Department of Education has found literacy scores have been dropping among this group since 2020. Pamela Davis-Kean says, “We have people that are basically...
1 in 4 older Michiganders lack enough friends. That’s a health concern
January 9, 2025
Older Americans are increasingly experiencing loneliness and isolation. According to new research, one in three older Americans feel a lack of companionship “some of the time” or “often,” while 1 in 10 older Americans could not name one close friend. Feelings of social...
Consumer outlook on the rise, despite worries with policy shifts under new presidency
December 20, 2024
ANN ARBOR—Consumer sentiment rose for the fifth consecutive month, reaching its highest reading since April 2024.The prospect of new policies after the White House transition continued to boost the economic outlook of Republicans, while Democrats are more pessimistic about the path of the...
Missing rebound: Youth drug use defies expectations, continues historic decline
December 17, 2024
ANN ARBOR—Adolescent drug use continued to drop in 2024, building on and extending the historically large decreases that occurred during the pandemic onset in 2020.“I expected adolescent drug use would rebound at least partially after the large declines that took place during the...
Joanne Hsu on Holiday Shopping in 2024
December 16, 2024
Americans are doing more than picking gifts this holiday season—they’re forecasting the economy.The University of Michigan’s Surveys of Consumers, led by economist Joanne Hsu, offers insights into how consumer sentiment shapes holiday spending and broader economic trends.With...
Poll shows role of close friendships in older adults’ health
December 12, 2024
Whether they’re lifelong buddies or recently connected, close to home or miles away, a new poll shows the key role that friends play in the lives and wellbeing of adults aged 50 and older.
But it also reveals some challenges for those who have physical health or mental health issues –...
U-M study of COVID-19 deaths challenges claims, understanding of pandemic-era suicides
December 12, 2024
Narratives behind numbers point to need for better coordination, support by employers, communities, public health leaders in future crises, especially mental healthANN ARBOR—In what is believed to be the first study of its kind, University of Michigan researchers dug deeper into the...
