Even higher-income Americans are turning pessimistic as Iran war ratchets up financial anxiety

Site SearchClearSEARCHAdvanced Search ➔Search ResultsSymbolsNo results foundAll NewsArticlesVideoPodcasts0 ResultsNo Results FoundAuthorsNo results foundSectionsNo results foundColumnsNo results found Even higher-income Americans are turning pessimistic as Iran war ratchets up financial anxietyConsumer sentiment now comparable to readings around the government shutdown last fall, the ‘liberation day’ tariffs last April and when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022Last Updated: March 27, 2026 at 1:24 p.m. ETFirst Published: March 27, 2026 at 10:32 a.m. ETShareResizeListen(2 min)Consumers have been hit by surging gasoline prices, falling stock prices and rising uncertainty. Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty ImagesAn earlier version of this report misstated the final March sentiment reading. It has been corrected.The numbers: Consumers grew more pessimistic about the economy amid the war with Iran as concerns over personal finances spiked due to higher gas prices and volatile financial markets. Higher-income Americans showed particularly significant declines in sentiment. About the Author Greg RobbGreg Robb is a senior reporter for MarketWatch in Washington. Follow him on Twitter @grobb2000.Show Conversation (0)Back To TopA Dow Jones CompanyCopyright © 2026 MarketWatch, Inc. All rights reserved.Terms of UsePrivacy NoticeCookie NoticeArchive MarketwatchCustomer CenterContact UsNewslettersNewsroom RosterVirtual Stock ExchangeMarketWatch GuidesCopyright PolicyManage NotificationsCancel My SubscriptionCompanyDow JonesCode of ConductCorrectionsReprints & LicensingDigital Self ServiceYour Ad ChoicesCorporate SubscriptionsAccessibilityDow Jones NetworkThe Wall Street JournalBarron'sInvestor's Business DailyFinancial News Londonrealtor.comMansion GlobalDow Jones Smart MoneyIntraday Data provided by FACTSET and subject to terms of use. Historical and current end-of-day data provided by FACTSET. All quotes are in local exchange time. Real-time last sale data for U.S. stock quotes reflect trades reported through Nasdaq only. Intraday data delayed at least 15 minutes or per exchange requirements.