Grace Noppert recognized with research award
June 4, 2025
Congratulations to Grace Noppert – she has been awarded with a Research Faculty Recognition Award from the University of Michigan Office of the Vice President for Research.Arthur Lupia, interim VP for research and innovation, says, “The outstanding achievements of these faculty...
How DOGE’s push to amass data could hurt the reliability of future U.S. statistics
June 4, 2025
U.S. Census Bureau’s decades long trouble with falling public participation in surveys and trust in government is now compounded by DOGE’s handling of data. Distrust in how government uses data is higher among people of color, which can lead to selection bias and skewed data. Trivellore...
Sentiment stops 4-month slide, consumers remain wary still
May 30, 2025
ANN ARBOR—Consumer sentiment held steady in May, ending four consecutive months of plunging declines.Sentiment had ebbed through mid-May but turned a corner in the latter half of the month following the temporary pause on some tariffs on China goods, said economist Joanne Hsu, director...
Research Highlight: Neighborhood Segregation & Food Insecurity
May 28, 2025
Ethan Siu Leung Cheung, Department of Family and Consumer Studies, University of Utah, examined the impact of neighborhood gentrification on food insecurity among older adults, as well as the role neighborhood environmental factors — social cohesion, public transportation, and food...
One set of economic indicators is pointing to a future economic slowdown
May 21, 2025
A forward-looking index of economic indicators put out by The Conference Board is flashing warning signs of “economic slowdown.”The Leading Economic Index, or LEI, fell sharply in April by 1% after falling nearly that much in March. It was the largest one-month drop in more...
Research Highlight: Public Polling
May 20, 2025
Researchers in the Program in Survey and Data Science have been doing work to improve public polling accuracy.“Tried and true” methods of weighting adjustment may not be sufficient for adjusting for the kinds of selection bias that arise due to problems like partisan nonresponse to...
Why the consumer sentiment plunge is different now
May 19, 2025
Consumer sentiment fell to its second lowest level-the lowest was June 2022 when inflation peaked at 9%-this decline is among all income levels. Joanne Hsu says, Consumers are specifically concerned about instability, unpredictability, uncertainty around trade policy, and they broadly believe that...
Personal Finance ‘We’re living in two separate economies.’ Why young Americans feel stuck, financially
May 13, 2025
While on paper, GenX and Millennial generations’ net worth has been growing, the costs of housing, medical care, and insurance are rising faster. Older generations blame younger generations for not reaching the same financial milestones that they did, but the problem is structural, not...
1 in 4 kids live with parents who have alcohol, other drug problems, U-M study finds
May 13, 2025
Updated estimates point to need for more treatmentANN ARBOR—A large percentage of American children are growing up in households with at least one parent who uses alcohol or other drugs in problematic ways—raising the risk that those children will go on to do the same, a new study...
Seeing better, living longer: Eye care and fall prevention may extend lifespan in older adults
May 9, 2025
ANN ARBOR—Older adults with vision problems face a heightened risk of falls and premature death, according to a new University of Michigan study.The findings highlight a dangerous link between untreated vision impairment, repeated falls and increased mortality—and point to practical...
