HVAC buying indicator falls in August

U.S. consumers remain wary of buying big-ticket household items amid broader economic worries, University of Michigan data released Friday suggests. 

What’s happening: Asked in August whether now is a good or bad time to buy ‘large household durables’ including appliances — an indicator of HVAC purchasing intent — 30 percent of respondents answered that it was a good time, while 65 percent said it was a bad time. 

• For “good time” responses, that marks a drop from 33 percent in July — and 39 percent in August 2025. 
• Over the last 12 months, “good time” sentiment was lowest in May, at 27 percent.

Zoom in: Asked for their reasoning, those who said it was a good time to buy in August selected “Prices are low; good buys available” and “Prices won’t come down; are going higher” as the two most common reasons. 

• However, “Prices are high” and “Times are bad; can’t afford to buy” were the two most-selected reasons among those who said it was a bad time to buy during the month. 

Zoom out: The university on Friday also released its final consumer sentiment reading for September, which fell to a four-month low and is down 15 percent from January 2026.

• High gas prices and rising interest rates are among the reasons U.S. consumers feel pressured.

What they’re saying: “Short-run expected business conditions plunged amid renewed worries that elevated fuel prices and reescalating trade disputes could pass through to the economy as a whole,” U-M economist Joanne Hsu, director of the surveys, said in a statement.