Consumer sentiment slipped back in June, partisan gap at 39 points

Consumer confidence slipped to its lowest level since Trump was elected, although the overall level still remains quite favorable. The average level of the Sentiment Index during the first half of 2017 was 96.8, the best half-year average since the second half of 2000, and the partisan gap between Democrats and Republicans stood at 39 Index-points in June, nearly identical to the 38 point gap in February.

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May consumer sentiment continued high plateau but partisan divide remains

According to the University of Michigan's monthly survey, consumer sentiment has continued to move along the high plateau established following Trump’s election. The May 2017 figure was virtually unchanged from the April reading, and nearly identical with the December to May average of 97.3.

Moreover, the partisan divide between Democrats and Republicans has also remained largely unchanged, with the first expecting a recession and the other more robust economic growth.
Despite the expected bounce back in spending in the current quarter, personal consumption is expected to advance by 2.3% in 2017, although this is based on averages across the political divide, which has never been as extreme as it is currently.