Updated May 2026 · The Conference Board
Consumer Indicator
Consumer Confidence Index
Consumer Confidence Index is a measure of household sentiment, spending, and financial health sourced from The Conference Board, updated monthly. Next release: 2026-04-29.
Historical Trend
| Date | Value |
|---|---|
| 2026-03 | 92.9 |
| 2026-02 | 98.3 |
| 2026-01 | 104.1 |
| 2025-12 | 104.7 |
| 2025-11 | 111.7 |
| 2025-10 | 99.2 |
| 2025-09 | 98.7 |
| 2025-08 | 103.3 |
| 2025-07 | 100.3 |
Reading the Current Print
At 92.9, the current reading sits in the lower portion of the recent historical range for this series. That is depressed relative to recent norms; the question for an operator is whether the soft reading reflects a near-term cyclical low or the start of a more persistent shift.
Consumer Confidence moved from 98.30 to 92.9 since the prior monthly release — a sharp move lower of -5.40. Downward moves on consumer indicators usually carry directional information about the cycle; pair this reading with related series before drawing strong conclusions.
Monthly publication makes this a primary cyclical indicator. Each release moves markets and feeds into Federal Reserve policy debate. Watch year-over-year change rather than month-over-month for the cleanest read on direction; the headline monthly print often gets revised in subsequent releases.
What This Means for Business
Consumer confidence has dropped to 92.9 — the lowest in over a year and the fourth consecutive monthly decline. Readings below 100 indicate more pessimism than optimism. For executives, declining confidence is a leading indicator of reduced consumer spending. When consumers feel less confident, they delay major purchases (cars, appliances, vacations), increase savings rates, and become more price-sensitive. Retailers and consumer-facing businesses should prepare for softer demand.
For deeper context on how Consumer Confidence fits into the broader macro picture, see the learn library; for live cross-checks against related series, browse the full indicators dashboard; for tools that translate the reading into business outputs (DCF discount rates, runway projections), see the calculators page. Authoritative external context is available at the Federal Reserve’s FRED database, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the SEC EDGAR system for company-level filings.
About Consumer Confidence
The Consumer Confidence Index measures how optimistic or pessimistic consumers are about the economy and their personal financial situation. It is based on a monthly survey of 5,000 U.S. households by The Conference Board.
Methodology
The Conference Board surveys 5,000 households monthly, asking about current business conditions, current employment conditions, expected business conditions in 6 months, expected employment in 6 months, and expected total family income in 6 months. The index is benchmarked to 1985 = 100.
The series is published by The Conference Board under series identifier CONCCONF. ExecBolt does not estimate, model, or interpolate this value — every reading on this page is pulled directly from the publishing agency’s primary release. For full sourcing and citation guidance, see the methodology page.
Related Indicators
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Consumer Confidence Index right now?
Consumer Confidence Index is currently 92.9, down -5.40 from the previous monthly reading. Source: The Conference Board, series CONCCONF, last updated 2026-03-25.
How is Consumer Confidence calculated?
The Conference Board surveys 5,000 households monthly, asking about current business conditions, current employment conditions, expected business conditions in 6 months, expected employment in 6 months, and expected total family income in 6 months. The index is benchmarked to 1985 = 100.
Where can I verify this number?
Consumer Confidence Index is published by The Conference Board. The primary release is available at https://www.conference-board.org/topics/consumer-confidence; the The Conference Board hosts the historical series and provides API access for programmatic verification.
How reliable is consumer confidence as an economic predictor?
Consumer confidence is a mixed predictor. It correlates with consumer spending (which is 70% of GDP), but the relationship is not always tight. Large, sustained drops in confidence (below 80) have historically preceded recessions. However, confidence can decline due to political sentiment without affecting actual spending behavior. The 'expectations' sub-index is more predictive than the 'present situation' component.
What is the difference between consumer confidence and consumer sentiment?
The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index and the University of Michigan's Consumer Sentiment Index measure similar concepts but use different methodologies. Consumer Confidence is based on 5,000 household responses and emphasizes labor market conditions. Consumer Sentiment surveys 500 households and focuses more on personal finances and inflation expectations. Both are widely followed.