Do You See: Good, Bad, or Ugly?

University of Michigan: Consumer Sentiment, A Closer Look

From The Distilled Perspective of Patrick T Bulger, Capital Management & Analytics 

Note, last week’s July release was 54.4, up from the June reading of 44.8

•    My Take

A pause in conflict.  Sentiment picked up, Coincidence?
Cyclical Highs in 2018, 
Currently: What would you call it?

I see it matching my view of the underlying broad macro-economic data. 

•    The Full Takeaway

One data point is not conviction for decision making.

This post is the result of my frustration with hearing this number reported as a "Surge"...without full context...Here is the full context.  

Do you see, Robust, Resilient, Strong or reason for Concern?

Now you know why, I filter for Intentionally Advanced Thinkers. 

•    Final Wrap

Distilled data is for the high level thinkers & delegators. 
Narratives, stories & bluster are built for The Herd. 

I manage capital for those who demand quality in their decision chain. 
If you are an intentionally advanced thinker, 
It may be time for a risk discussion, because your money matters to you. 

Visit the bio, reach out, Click the "Ask" button

Best, 
PTB

Source & Notes:
University of Michigan, University of Michigan: Consumer Sentiment [UMCSENT], retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis; https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/UMCSENT, July 22, 2026.

At the request of the source, the data is delayed by 1 month. To obtain historical data prior to January 1978, please see FRED data series UMCSENT1.