U.S. Consumer Confidence Improved in October, Conference Board Says
By Jessica Coacci
Consumer confidence in October revived to June levels as consumer appraisals improved both for the present situation and for future expectations, a monthly survey from The Conference Board said.
The research group said its consumer confidence index rose to 91.7 this month from 84.2 in September. Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal had expected a reading of 81. September's level was revised slightly upward.
The recovery was in line with retail gasoline prices easing from September to October, said Fergus McCormick, Senior Economist, Global Indicators at the Conference Board.
Consumers' assessment of current business and labor-market conditions increased to 120.4. The expectations index, based on the short-term outlook for income, business and labor-market conditions, recovered by 6.9 points to 72.6.
The labor-market differential--the share of consumers saying jobs are "plentiful" minus the share saying jobs are "hard to get"--improved by 2.4 percentage points to 5.3%. Economists watch the measure to gauge how tight labor conditions are for households.
A separate survey from the University of Michigan found that consumer sentiment ticked slightly lower in October, hovering near record-low levels in the survey's final reading before November's midterm elections.
Even as data shows consumer spending remaining resilient, higher energy prices and worries about sustained inflation have soured households' moods in recent months. The Federal Reserve raised interest rates in September to combat inflation above their target goals. The committee is meeting Tuesday and Wednesday to assess whether more interest-rate hikes will be needed to slow down the economy.
"Despite the increase in October, consumer confidence remained on the long-term downward trend that's persisted over the past few years," McCormick said.
Write to Jessica Coacci at jessica.coacci@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
October 27, 2026 10:37 ET (14:37 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.The articles, information, and content displayed on this webpage may include materials prepared and provided by third parties. Such third-party content is offered for informational purposes only and is not endorsed, reviewed, or verified by Morningstar.
Morningstar makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or reliability of any third-party content displayed on this site. The views and opinions expressed in third-party content are those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Morningstar, its affiliates, or employees.
Morningstar is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or delays in this content, nor for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Users are advised to exercise their own judgment and seek independent financial advice before making any decisions based on such content. The third-party providers of this content are not affiliated with Morningstar, and their inclusion on this site does not imply any form of partnership, agency, or endorsement.
Popular
2 Undervalued Stocks to Buy With Long-Term Growth Ahead
5 Stocks to Buy Trading at Big Discounts
The Market May Be Too Pessimistic About This 4-Star Dividend Stock
4 Stocks to Buy for the Long-Term While They’re Still Undervalued
United States