September US Consumer Confidence Falls on Declines in Current Conditions, Expectations

10:14 AM EDT, 09/29/2026 (MT Newswires) -- The Conference Board's measure of consumer confidence fell to 81.9 in September from 88.6 in August, compared with an expected rise to a reading of 89.0 in a survey compiled by Bloomberg. The present situation reading declined to 109.3 from 117.2, while the expectations reading decreased to 63.6 from 69.5. The current assessments of both employment and business conditions declined in September. "Consumers' write-in responses regarding factors affecting the economy were mostly pessimistic in September," said Dana Peterson, Chief Economist at The Conference Board. "References to prices, the high cost of goods and services, and oil and gas prices in particular, rose to new heights, reflecting September's surge in fuel costs." Peterson added that there were continued concerns about geopolitical tensions, as well as politics, trade and employment. The survey period for the report also covered the Federal Reserve's rate increase. The monthly consumer confidence index from the Conference Board measures consumer sentiment in the current month, with the headline index a combination of the present situation and expectations for the near future. The report also includes the current and future assessments for business and employment conditions. An increase in the reading suggests consumers are more confident, a positive for stocks if that confidence translates into spending. Increased demand is usually inflationary, a negative for bonds.