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As Mental Health Awareness Month begins, early signs indicate that the CivicScience Well-Being Index (WBI) may have hit bottom for now, thanks to a slight rebound into spring. Americans appear to be settling in after months of heightened economic anxiety. Although challenges like inflation, rising interest rates, and renewed student loan collections remain, the initial shock of tariff announcements and recession fears may be subsiding. In times like these, tracking emotional and mental well-being becomes especially important. The WBI offers a timely snapshot of how Americans are feeling, serving as a powerful indicator of consumer behavior, from spending habits to brand loyalty.
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Despite a recent downward trend, a weekly glance at the CivicScience Well-Being Index shows that overall well-being among U.S. adults improved by nearly two percentage points from the beginning of April to the end of it, rising from 53.59 to 55.17. However, this remains more than two points below levels observed at the same time last year, suggesting a sustained decline in year-over-year sentiment.
Older Americans (ages 55+) drove the recent uptick, with a nearly six-point increase in weekly well-being, while adults under 55, particularly those aged 18–34, saw declines. This disparity may reflect differences in financial stability and life stage, as older adults are more likely to be retired, have less debt, and be insulated from current stressors like housing costs, job market uncertainty, and resumed student loan payments.
Monthly data paint a similar picture. Well-being among U.S. adults has dipped notably over the past several months, reaching one of its lowest points since 2021. The index ticked up slightly from March to April, but it remains below where it stood a year ago. Economic volatility—from shifting tariff policy to persistent financial stress—is reshaping how consumers feel about their present and future. That uncertainty appears to be weighing on people’s overall sense of well-being.
A closer examination of the index’s components reveals a monthly increase in all emotions (except sadness). That said, though, all negative emotions have risen compared to the same time last year, further underscoring how ongoing uncertainty is taking a toll on well-being.
Use this Data: CivicScience clients rely on real-time data like this to gain clarity on how sentiment changes may factor into and/or lead to shifts in consumer behavior and larger trends, as seen below.
Aside from observing how Americans feel today, the CivicScience Well-Being Index is a key indicator of certain consumer behaviors. For instance:
- Those who reported only negative emotions this year are 11 percentage points more likely than those who reported only positive emotions to say they’ve cut back on spending due to inflation.
- Americans who reported only negative feelings are 10 percentage points more likely than those who reported only positive feelings to say they value price over brand. Meanwhile, those who reported only positive emotions are more inclined to say they value brand over price compared to those reporting negative emotions.
- Those who reported only negative emotions are seven percentage points more likely to play video games ‘frequently’ than those who only reported positive feelings.
- Americans reporting only positive emotions are 10 percentage points more likely than those reporting only negative emotions to attend sporting events.
- Those reporting only negative emotions are five percentage points more likely than those reporting only positive emotions to switch banks in the next three months.
Weigh In: At what point in the year do you typically experience the best emotional well-being?
As Mental Health Awareness Month continues, the CivicScience Well-Being Index underscores how economic and emotional pressures are shaping the daily lives—and decisions—of Americans. While there’s been a slight uptick in well-being, year-over-year trends reveal a deeper and more persistent decline, especially among younger adults. The growing divide in emotional sentiment not only highlights differences in financial and life circumstances but also signals shifting consumer behaviors. From spending cutbacks to changes in brand loyalty, how people feel today plays a pivotal role in their consumer behavior. Understanding how people feel is becoming increasingly crucial for anticipating how they’ll act in an uncertain economic climate.
