Consumer Sentiment (MCSI)

Seven decades of how Americans feel about the economy. The 2022 print was the lowest in the survey's history — below both oil crises and 2008 — driven by inflation's unique power to sour sentiment.

Sentiment is contrarian at extremes: historic lows have been better buying moments than selling ones, for equities and (in its short history) crypto alike. The interesting divergence is sentiment versus spending — people who feel terrible but keep spending have repeatedly postponed predicted recessions.