Consumer sentiment in the United States has reached historic lows, with 60% of Americans viewing economic policy negatively and an equal percentage expecting conditions to worsen, according to University of Michigan data and Financial Times analysis. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is on track for its worst April performance since 1932, reflecting widespread investor pessimism. A Gallup poll reveals that 53% of Americans now say their financial situation is deteriorating, marking the highest level of financial pessimism since the poll began in 2001. Additionally, 58% of respondents believe it is a bad time to find a quality job. This level of pessimism surpasses that seen during previous crises such as the 2007-09 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. Consumer sentiment has fallen to 50.8, the second-lowest level in history, lower than during every U.S. recession in the past 50 years. The decline in economic optimism is also reflected in concerns about retirement, with Americans fearing going broke more than death. Financial experts have described the current situation as a manufactured crisis with multiple unforced errors, contributing to the poor stock market performance.