Florida consumer sentiment dipped in March for the first time in 2026, as Floridians reported weaker views on major purchases and the national economy even while remaining somewhat more positive about their own finances.
The University of Florida’s consumer sentiment index fell one point to 78.1 in March from a revised 79.1 in February. National consumer sentiment also declined during the month, dropping by 3.3 points.
The March decline was driven largely by softer spending intentions. The share of Floridians who said it was a good time to buy major household items such as furniture or appliances fell 3.8 points, from 68.6 to 64.8, the steepest drop among the index’s five components.
Expectations for U.S. economic conditions over the next year also weakened, declining from 82.3 to 80.4, while views of the national economy over the next five years edged down from 79.9 to 79.5.
At the same time, however, some personal-finance measures improved. Opinions on current personal financial conditions compared with a year ago rose from 74.4 to 74.8, while expectations for personal finances over the next year increased from 90.0 to 91.1.
The report also showed sentiment remained uneven across demographic groups. Lower-income households continued to report substantially weaker confidence than higher-income households, with the overall index at 60.9 among respondents earning under $50,000 annually, compared with 82.8 for those earning $50,000 or more.
UF economist Hector Sandoval said the results reflect a more uncertain environment in which households are balancing stable inflation and steady interest rates against signs of labor-market softening and rising energy costs tied to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
“Looking ahead, the decline in spending intentions, combined with weaker expectations about future economic conditions, suggests that Floridians are becoming more cautious,” Sandoval said. “Moreover, if geopolitical tensions persist and energy markets remain volatile, higher gasoline and energy costs could place additional pressure on household budgets. At the same time, a softer labor market may limit income growth, further weighing on consumer confidence. Monitoring these developments will be important to assess whether this month’s decline represents a temporary adjustment or the beginning of a broader shift in consumer sentiment.”
The survey was conducted from Feb. 1 through March 26 and was based on responses from 314 Floridians reached on cellphones. UF said the data were weighted by county, age and sex to reflect the state’s population.
