Consumer Confidence Falls to 94.2; Inflation, Jobs Strain

U.S. consumer confidence fell sharply to 94.2 in September, a 3.6-point decline from August and the lowest reading since April, the Conference Board reported. The Expectations Index slid to 73.4—remaining below the 80 threshold often associated with recession risk—while the Present Situation Index dropped seven points to 125.4 as assessments of business conditions and job availability weakened for the ninth straight month. Survey write-ins singled out rising prices and inflation as the top consumer worry, consistent with August consumer prices rising 2.9% year‑over‑year (core +3.1%). Labor-market indicators reinforced the concern: nonfarm payrolls rose just 22,000 in August, revisions trimmed prior job gains, job openings remain around 7.2 million, and the unemployment rate is 4.3%.