Consumer confidence is breaking down in a way investors have not seen in years. The University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index landed at 53.3 in March 2026, sitting below the 60 recessionary threshold, and the latest Surveys of Consumers reading dropped further to 49.8 in April 2026, a 6.6% month-over-month decline matching the trough from ... Consumer Sentiment Just Crashed Below the Recession Threshold. These 3 Defensive Stocks Under $25 Are Built for What Comes Next