Consumer sentiment is back to near-record lows. But Americans are still spending. Here’s why

Shoppers inside a store in Napa, California, on September 22. David Paul Morris/Bloomberg/Getty Images Washington —

Americans are souring on the economy again to levels seen rarely in the post-World War II era, raising the question of what it means for spending, economic growth and other key metrics gauging the world’s largest economy.

Consumer sentiment fell this month to a final reading of 55.1, the University of Michigan said in its latest survey released Friday. The reading was the seventh-lowest on records going back to 1952.

Americans are growing pessimistic for the same reason they did so just a few months ago; fears of higher inflation, which could worsen because of President Donald Trump’s aggressive trade policy. On Thursday, Trump announced new tariffs on trucks, furn