What economic vibes say about reality: Jason Furman on consumer sentiment, recession indicators, and more

Date
November 16, 2026, 4:30 PM to 5:00 PM EST
Virtual Event
Event Summary

How do economists think about "vibes"?

Jason Furman, former chair of the Council of Economic Advisors (CEA) and nonresident senior fellow at PIIE explains to host Anjali V. Bhatt what consumer sentiment looks like in the United States today, how economists in the government interpret it to apply to policy, and how his thinking about consumer confidence in the United States and compared to the rest of the world has changed since he left government. They also discuss recession indicators—both what social media trends and economic theory say—and how the US economy is doing after the midterm elections.

HOST

Anjali V. Bhatt
Communications Director and Research Fellow, PIIE

GUEST

Jason Furman
Nonresident Senior Fellow, PIIE

Video

Series

About This Series

Get an inside look at the work going on at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, one of the world’s leading think tanks. Join Anjali V. Bhatt, PIIE communications manager and research fellow, for PIIE Insider LIVE, a series of live chats with our experts about how they’re tackling today’s issues, their exclusive insights on the latest news, and the implications for families and businesses. Ask questions during interviews or subscribe to the podcast to become a PIIE insider too.

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