US CB Consumer Confidence

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® declined by 7.0 points in February to 98.3 (1985=100). The Present Situation Index—based on consumers' assessment of current business and labor market conditions—fell 3.4 points to 136.5. The Expectations Index—based on consumers' short-term outlook for income, business, and labor market conditions— dropped 9.3 points to 72.9. For the first time since June 2024, the Expectations Index was below the threshold of 80 that usually signals a recession ahead. The cutoff date for preliminary results was February 19, 2025. "In February, consumer confidence registered the largest monthly decline since August 2021," said Stephanie Guichard, Senior Economist, Global Indicators at The Conference Board. "This is the third consecutive month on month decline, bringing the Index to the bottom of the range that has prevailed since 2022. Of the five components of the Index, only consumers' assessment of present business conditions improved, albeit slightly. Views of current labor market conditions weakened. Consumers became pessimistic about future business conditions and less optimistic about future income. Pessimism about future employment prospects worsened and reached a ten-month high." post: The largest monthly decline since August 2021 https://t.co/VV8d3xei8A US consumer confidence worsens in February Consumer confidence in the United States deteriorated by less than anticipated in February, according to a report released Tuesday by the Conference Board. The Consumer Confidence Index dropped to 98.3, down from January's upwardly revised figure of 105.3. The Present Situation Index fell by 3.4 index points to 136.5, and the Expectations Index slowed to 72.9 in January, losing 9.3 index points from last month. Notably, the Expectations Index was below 80, a threshold which typically indicates a recession in the coming year. "In February, consumer confidence registered the largest monthly decline since August 2021 ... This is the third consecutive month on month decline, bringing the Index to the bottom of the range that has prevailed since 2022. Of the five components of the Index, only consumers’ assessment of present business conditions improved, albeit slightly," the Conference Board Senior Economist Stephanie Guichard commented.