Americans’ confidence in the economy drops to the lowest level seen in more than a decade in September, according to a Conference Board survey released Tuesday. The consumer confidence index falls 6.7 points to 81.9, down from 88.6 in August, marking the lowest reading since April 2014 and a level below pandemic-era lows referenced by some outlets.
Multiple reports cite lingering inflation pressures and stagnant wages as key drivers of respondents’ pessimism. Other coverage links the decline to economic uncertainty tied to the Iran war, noting increases in concerns about prices, goods and services, and fuel costs. While the underlying survey result is consistent across outlets, the emphasis differs: some highlight broad economic conditions such as cost of living and wage stagnation, while others focus more on the role of rising oil and gas prices related to the conflict and the political context of upcoming midterm elections.
