Americans feel more and more glum, data shows. Economists are over it
US consumer confidence has declined to near a 12-and-a-half-year low, driven by growing fears regarding the labor market and climbing inflation expectations. Despite solid broader economic indicators and persistent consumer spending, public sentiment remains stubbornly depressed. Six years after the COVID-19 pandemic, consumer views on the economy have sunk to levels not seen since 2014, leaving economists to rethink their predictive models as public gloom persists despite ongoing market recoveries.
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- ✓ US consumer confidence dropped near a 12-and-a-half-year low amid growing labor market fears.
- ✓ Americans' view of the economy sank to the lowest level since 2014, according to a Conference Board survey.
What changed
Consumer confidence metrics dropped to a level not seen since 2014, matching a 12-and-a-half-year low amid mounting labor market anxieties.
Live updates
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US Consumer Confidence Sinks to Multi-Year Low
US consumer confidence has declined to near a 12-and-a-half-year low, driven by growing fears regarding the labor market and climbing inflation expectations. Despite solid broader economic indicators and persistent consumer spending, public sentiment remains stubbornly depressed. Six years after the COVID-19 pandemic, consumer views on the economy have sunk to levels not seen since 2014, leaving economists to rethink their predictive models as public gloom persists despite ongoing market recoveries.
Why it matters
The widening gap between strong macroeconomic data and dismal consumer sentiment continues to confound analysts who rely on traditional indicators. While Americans maintain heavy spending habits, psychological despair tied to adulthood, homeownership, and job market entry remains widespread. This disconnect forces economists to reevaluate how national financial health is forecasted when public morale stubbornly decouples from official growth metrics.
What is confirmed
- US consumer confidence dropped near a 12-and-a-half-year low amid growing labor market fears.
- Americans' view of the economy sank to the lowest level since 2014, according to a Conference Board survey.
Still unconfirmed
- College students face intense despair and political anxiety due to worries about future adulthood and the modern job market.
What to watch next
- Upcoming monthly consumer attitude and inflation expectation surveys
- Future Federal Reserve reports on consumer pessimism and spending habits
confidence 90%Sources used for this update (23)
- Reuters — US consumer confidence near 12-1/2-year low amid labor market fears
- en.wikipedia.org — United States - Wikipedia
- www.conference-board.org — US Consumer Confidence
- en.wikipedia.org — Americans - Wikipedia
- simple.wikipedia.org — Americans - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- USA Today — Americans feel more and more glum, data shows. Economists are over it
- awealthofcommonsense.com — Why is Consumer Sentiment so Low?
- AP News — Americans' view of the economy sinks to the lowest level since 2014, Conference Board survey says
- Investopedia — Americans Haven’t Felt This Glum About The Economy Since 2014
- www.justwatch.com — The Americans - streaming tv show online - JustWatch
- MyNorthwest.com — ‘I don’t wish that daily stress on anyone’: Gee and Ursula discuss finances as consumer confidence falls to 12-year low
- WDIY — Economic Pulse: Week of 10/2/26
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