The Consumer Confidence Index was 81.9 in September, down from 88.6 in August, the Conference Board said. The present situation index — based on consumers’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions — fell by 7.9 points to 109.3. The expectations index — based on consumers’ short-term outlook for income, business, and labor market conditions — decreased by 5.9 points to 63.6, its third consecutive monthly decline.
“Consumer appraisals of current business conditions became negative for the first time since September 2024,” said Dana Peterson, chief economist for the Conference Board. “Perceptions of the current labor market also worsened, though remained within positive territory. Over the next six months, consumers expected both business conditions and the labor market to weaken. Consumers still anticipated their household incomes to rise, but less so compared to previous months.”
