-5.4 on previous index reading
The Consumer Pulse came in at 51.3 in April 2022, down 5.4 on March and 20.4 on a year ago. Households lowered their assessment of the current economic situation this month and were also more downbeat about their own finances. High uncertainty and inflation contributed to some softening in buying sentiment in April too, with just 19% considering it a good time to make major purchases and more than half (57%) saying that they are holding out on spending because they are not sure which way economic policy is going to go (this is up from 46% in January).