US Consumer Confidence Declines Amid Rising Economic Concerns
US consumer confidence declined in September to 94.2, driven by American worries over rising prices, a weakening job market, and the increasing expectation of a recession.
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Overview
- The US consumer confidence index dropped by 3.6 points to 94.2 in September, reflecting growing apprehension among Americans regarding the nation's economic outlook.
- This decline is primarily fueled by widespread concerns about rising consumer prices, which increased 2.9% last month from a year earlier, impacting household budgets.
- Worries about the job market intensified as the unemployment rate reached 4.3%, highest since October 2021, and job availability fell for the ninth consecutive month.
- Americans are increasingly concerned about short-term income, business conditions, and the overall economic situation, with expectations for the future falling to 73.4.
- Weakening confidence also stems from more people expecting a recession next year, indicating a noticeable deterioration in the labor market despite historically low layoffs.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story by emphasizing a deteriorating economy and explicitly linking negative trends to specific political policies. They use loaded language to describe economic indicators and attribute the "hiring slump" and business caution directly to Trump's tariffs and other policies, creating a narrative of economic decline driven by these actions.
"U.S. consumer confidence declined again in September as Americans’ pessimism over inflation and the weakening job market continued to grow."
ABC NewsArticles (3)
FAQ
The decline in US consumer confidence in September 2025 is primarily driven by concerns over rising consumer prices, a weakening job market, and increasing expectations of a recession next year.
Consumer expectations for the future economic situation have fallen to 73.4, remaining below the threshold of 80 that typically signals a recession ahead since February 2025, indicating deteriorating optimism about income, business conditions, and job availability.
The job market has weakened with the unemployment rate rising to 4.3%, highest since October 2021, and job availability falling for the ninth consecutive month, contributing to declining consumer confidence despite historically low layoffs.
Rising consumer prices, which increased 2.9% year-over-year in the last month, have impacted household budgets, causing widespread concerns and contributing to the decline in consumer confidence.
The consumer confidence index dropped by 3.6 points to 94.2 in September 2025 from 97.8 in August, marking the lowest level since April 2025 and showing a noticeable decline compared to more positive readings earlier in the year.
History
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