The Conference Board reported that its Consumer Confidence Index fell by 3.6 points to 94.2 in September, down from August’s 97.8—the lowest level since April when President Trump announced his sweeping tariff policy. A measure of Americans’ short-term expectations for their income, business conditions, and the job market fell to 73.4, remaining below 80, the marker that can signal a recession ahead. Consumers’ assessments of their current economic situation also dipped by 7 points to 125.4.
