Republican consumer sentiment fell 15.1 index points from February to the latest University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers reading, dropping from 97.1 to 82, while Democratic sentiment declined 1.6 points from 41.8 to 40.2. The Republican reading is below every point in either of Donald Trump's presidencies except December 2020, after he lost reelection but before leaving office. The unusually wide partisan divergence has emerged as economic anxiety reduces support for the US president and Republican Party ahead of the midterm elections. Republicans remain more optimistic than Democrats and broadly expect gas prices to decline after the Iran war ends, but polling shows growing dissatisfaction with Trump's economic policies. White House spokesman Kush Desai said consumer spending and retail sales demonstrate resilience because of Trump's tax cuts and deregulation agenda.