Global consumer confidence edges up in July as US sentiment slips
On a monthly basis, American consumer confidence edged up 1.9 points from June 2026. However, on a year-over-year basis, the US recorded a significant decline of 2.8 points compared to July 2025; one of the more notable annual drops among developed markets tracked in the survey. That annual softening places the US alongside Great Britain (down 5.8 points year over year) and Germany (down 7.1 points) as developed economies where consumers are feeling meaningfully less confident than they were a year ago.
Canada scored 49.4 on the overall index in July 2026, fractionally above the Global Legacy 20 average of 47.4 and roughly in line with the North America regional average of 50.2 (based on legacy country data). Canadian confidence was essentially flat month over month, with a 0.5-point gain from June 2026, and showed a modest year-over-year improvement of 1.4 points compared to July 2025 — a more stable trajectory than the US decline over the same period.
The sub-index data from the Legacy 20 countries adds context. The Jobs Index stood at 60.0 in July 2026, the highest of the five sub-measures tracked, while the Current Index, which reflects consumers’ assessment of present economic conditions, was significantly lower at 36.5. The gap between jobs optimism and current economic conditions has been a persistent feature of post-pandemic confidence data globally, and the July 2026 readings suggest it remains wide for advisors trying to calibrate client sentiment.
Where confidence is rising and falling
The July 2026 data reveals a clear divide between emerging and developed market confidence. India remains the highest-scoring country in the survey at 67.1, followed by Sweden (58.6), Malaysia (57.0), and Singapore (54.1). On the other end, Japan (39.7), France (41.6), Argentina (41.8), Chile (42.0), and Germany (42.3) sit at the bottom of the 30-country ranking.
Month-over-month, the largest gains came from Argentina (+4.4 points), Singapore (+3.6), India (+3.2), and Israel (+3.1). Colombia (down 2.6 points) and South Korea (down 2.2 points) recorded the most significant monthly declines.
