If you listen to the politicians and the headlines, you'll hear a lot of talk about the "strong consumer" who is keeping the economy happily chugging along. But when we hear from actual consumers themselves, we hear a very different story. The majority of households are struggling under the surge in their cost of living post-COVID. Many express despair that the American dream is now beyond their reach. For a detailed dive into this critical topic, we're fortunate today to speak with Joanne Hsu, director of the widely-followed University of Michigan's consumer sentiment survey. The UMich data indeed shows that a growing majority of Americans are giving up hope they'll ever be able to afford a middle class lifestyle. WORRIED ABOUT THE MARKET? SCHEDULE YOUR FREE PORTFOLIO REVIEW with Thoughtful Money's endorsed financial advisors at https://www.thoughtfulmoney.com #consumersentiment #consumerconfidence #costofliving --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thoughtful-money/support