The New York State Index of Consumer Sentiment fell to 65.6 in the first quarter, down 3.2 points from the fourth quarter of 2025, according to the Siena Research Institute. The reading is the state\u2019s lowest since June 2022.<\/p>\n
Siena said New York sentiment remains above the national index of 53.3, which rose 0.4 points. New York\u2019s current index slipped 0.4 points to 63.3, while the measure of future expectations dropped 4.8 points to 67.2. Siena said future confidence in New York is at its lowest level since October 2013 and that the overall index has been below the breakeven point of balanced optimism and pessimism for five straight quarters.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile the national Index of Consumer Sentiment rose slightly, mostly driven by the sharp increase in the current sentiment, New York\u2019s overall Index dropped by 3.2 points,\u201d according to Travis Brodbeck, SRI\u2019s Associate Director of Data Management. \u201cIn New York, the drop in the Index is driven by the steep decline in future confidence, the Index of Consumer Expectations, which is at its lowest point since October of 2013. Both in New York and nationally, there was at least a 2.9-point drop in future confidence. In New York, confidence in the future dropped across all demographic groups with the most dramatic decline among Republicans dropping 14.1 points to 74.9.\u201d<\/p>\n
Siena said buying plans were mostly unchanged. Intentions to buy a home fell 1.0 percentage point to 9.9%. Plans to buy a car or truck declined 0.7 percentage point to 18.3%, and major home improvement plans edged down to 22.1%. Plans to buy consumer electronics rose to 41.6%, and plans to purchase furniture increased 5.6 percentage points to 30.1%.<\/p>\n
Siena reported that 79% of New Yorkers said food costs were having a very or somewhat serious impact on their financial condition, and 51% said the same about gasoline prices, up five points from last quarter. Utilities were cited as a very or somewhat serious impact by 75%, up five points.<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/b>\u201cGas prices are up and so is the number of New Yorkers who say that gas prices are having a serious impact on their financial condition\u201d, Brodbeck said. \u201cTo ensure we are capturing the evolving situation impacting the budgets of New Yorkers, we took two additional measurements on the seriousness of gas prices. First, we conducted an online poll of 389 state residents in late March and found that 70% say that gas prices are seriously impacting their financial condition. In our survey of New York\u2019s registered voters released earlier this week, 64% of voters said that gas prices are having a somewhat or very serious impact on their financial condition. The trend from these three measurements shows that as geopolitical events unfold, New Yorkers are saying that they feel the pain at the pump.\u201d<\/p>\n Siena said 51% of New Yorkers described their utility bills, including heating and electricity, as not too or not at all affordable, compared with 46% who said the bills were very or somewhat affordable. Siena said 55% reported keeping their thermostat lower or higher than comfortable because of utility costs, 34% paid a utility bill late or paid only a partial amount, 29% borrowed money or took on debt, and 17% contacted a local official.<\/p>\n The Siena University Poll was conducted March 3-14, 2026, among 810 New York State residents and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.<\/p>\n Visit www.siena.edu\/sri\/cci.<\/p>\n Provided by Siena Research Institute; edited for style and length.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The New York State Index of Consumer Sentiment fell to 65.6 in the first quarter, down 3.2 points from the fourth quarter of 2025, according to the Siena Research Institute. The reading is the state\u2019s lowest since June 2022. Siena said New York sentiment remains above the national index of 53.3, which rose 0.4 points. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":89,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39002","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-business-news"],"yoast_head":"\r\n