The RealClearMarkets/TIPP Economic Optimism Index for the US rose to 48.8 in February 2026, the highest since August and above market expectations of 47.9. The Six-Month Economic Outlook, which measures how consumers perceive the economy's prospects in the next six months, gained 1.2%, from 43.3 in January to 43.8 in February. The Personal Financial Outlook, a measure of how Americans feel about their own finances in the next six months, rose 3.6% from its previous reading of 54.9 in January to 56.9 this month. Confidence in Federal Economic Policies, a proprietary RCM/TIPP measure of views on the effectiveness of government economic policies, improved to 45.7 in February from 43.5 in January, a 5.1% gain.