July 28, 2026

The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index fell to 90.8 in July 2026, down 1.4 points from an upwardly revised 92.2 in June, according to data released Tuesday, July 28. It was the third consecutive month consumers grew less positive about current conditions. The Present Situation Index, measuring views of current business and labor conditions, dropped 3.6 points to 114.9, while the Expectations Index held steady at 74.7.

Survey respondents, polled between July 1 and July 22, cited rising grocery and fuel prices as a factor weighing on sentiment. The survey window also coincided with ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Conference Board chief economist Dana Peterson said confidence "moderated slightly in July, continuing a general downward sloping trajectory since late 2021."

The community strongly anticipated the decline, with 92% of bettors forecasting a fall ahead of the report's release, and the outcome confirmed that expectation. The reading fits a broader pattern in 2026 of consumers reporting more favorable views of future expectations than of present-day conditions, a gap tied to persistent cost pressures on households even as headline growth indicators have held up.

Coca-Cola reported second-quarter 2026 results on Tuesday, July 28, posting comparable earnings per share of $0.97, above the roughly $0.93 average analyst estimate and the $0.92 consensus figure referenced when the question was posted. Net revenues rose 7% year over year to $13.38 billion, also topping forecasts. Global unit case volume grew 5%, the company's largest quarterly increase in 17 years, driven by demand tied to the FIFA World Cup in markets including India, China, the United States and Brazil.

The beat prompted Coca-Cola to raise its full-year 2026 outlook, lifting its comparable EPS growth target to 9%-10% from 8%-9% and nudging organic revenue growth guidance to around 5%, the top end of its prior 4%-5% range. Shares jumped roughly 6% in premarket trading to near $89, close to a 52-week high, as investors responded to the results and improved guidance.

The community correctly anticipated the beat, with 57% of bettors forecasting yes ahead of the report. The result extends a run of steady earnings performance for Coca-Cola, whose management credited disciplined pricing and elevated event-driven consumption for the volume strength.