BEPI Hispanic Index of Consumer Sentiment

First Quarter 2026

TOPLINESRESULTSPRESS RELEASE

HISPANIC CONSUMER CONFIDENCE DECLINES IN FIRST QUARTER OF 2026

The Hispanic Consumer Sentiment Index (HCSI) declined sharply in the first quarter of 2026, signaling a broad-based drop in confidence among Hispanic consumers in the United States. The index fell from 85.8 in the fourth quarter of 2025 to 73.94, reflecting weaker expectations about both personal finances and overall economic conditions.

The decline is consistent across all five components of the index, pointing to a more cautious outlook among Hispanic households.

Compared to the previous quarter:

• Personal financial situation (past year): 47% of Hispanics report being better off financially than a year ago, down from 55%.
• Personal financial expectations (next year): 58% expect to be better off financially, compared to 69%.
• Short-term economic outlook: 47% anticipate good business conditions over the next year, down from 55%.
• Long-term economic outlook: 49% expect good times over the next five years, compared to 56%.
• Major purchases: 42% say it is a good time to buy big-ticket household items, down from 48%.

Additional Findings:

Consumer sentiment also weakened in key spending categories:

• Housing: 42% say it is a good time to buy a home, compared to 46% last quarter.
• Automobiles: 35% say it is a good time to buy a car, a notable decline from 50% in the last quarter of 2025.
• Cost of living: 73% report that the cost of living has increased, slightly higher than 72% in the previous quarter.

About the Survey

The results are based on a survey of 537 Hispanic adults (age 18 and older) conducted between January 1 and March 31, 2026. Data were collected via a combination of landline interviews (IVR) and online surveys through RepData. The margin of error is ±4.29 percentage points. Responses were weighted to reflect the national Hispanic population by region, education, gender, age, and income using the latest American Community Survey data.