Global consumer confidence increased for a twelfth consecutive week during the week of July 19, 2026, driven by economic data accumulated prior to recent disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Regional Impacts
The global Index of Consumer Sentiment (ICS) four-week moving average rose to 99.5, up from an April 19 low of 93.2. While approaching the neutral benchmark of 100, the index remains below pre-conflict levels.
Regional impacts vary depending on energy import dependencies and domestic fiscal factors. In the Americas, the U.S. ICS four-week moving average settled at 90.1, a 0.4-point decline, alongside rising retail gasoline prices following the Hormuz disruption.
In Europe, Germany’s four-week average rose 2.0 points to 75.9, marking four weeks of gains. Spain rose 1.2 points to 86.7, France gained 0.6 points to 66.1, and Italy held at 71.6.
In the Asia-Pacific region, China’s four-week average stood at 165.0, up 9.9 points since the start of the conflict, despite dropping from a June 21 peak of 173.8. Japan’s index registered at 64.6—11.4% below its January baseline—while South Korea’s four-week average hit 91.3.
In the Middle East and Africa, Saudi Arabia recorded a four-week average of 151.7, utilizing Red Sea pipelines via Yanbu with an estimated capacity of 3.75 million barrels per day, while the UAE reached 147.5.
Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.
