Florida Atlantic University’s index edged up from 73.94, but most respondents still said they were worse off than a year ago and housing-related sentiment remained weak.
Florida Atlantic University’s Hispanic Consumer Sentiment Index rose to 76.01 in the second quarter of 2026 from 73.94 in the first quarter, signaling a modest improvement in confidence among Hispanic consumers even as views on the economy remained divided. The poll found gains in expectations for personal finances, with 67% saying they expect to be better off in the next year, up from 58% in the first quarter. At the same time, 52% said they were worse off than a year ago, while 54% expected the country to face bad financial times in the year ahead. Short- and long-term views on broader business conditions softened: 45% anticipated good conditions over the next year, down from 47% in the first quarter, and 48% expected good financial times over the next five years, down from 49% in the prior year. Buying sentiment for major household purchases also stayed subdued, with 42% saying it was a good time to buy big-ticket items, unchanged from the first quarter and below 48% in the fourth quarter of 2025. Monica Escaleras, Ph.D., chair of the department of economics in FAU’s College of Business, said easing gasoline prices and a temporary de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East late in the quarter may have supported confidence, while warning that renewed geopolitical uncertainty and any effect on energy prices could shape future readings. She also said housing remains a weak point in the recovery because homeownership is a key way Hispanic families build wealth.