Economy

US Consumer Confidence Falls to Seven-Month Low Amid Economic Concerns

Illustration for: US Consumer Confidence Falls to Seven-Month Low Amid Economic Concerns
AI-generated illustration. Visual interpretation does not represent real individuals or scenes.

Nov 26, 2025

THE BARE STORY

U.S. consumer confidence declined in November to its lowest level in seven months, according to a survey released Tuesday by the Conference Board. The organization’s Consumer Confidence Index fell by 6.8 points to 88.7, below economists' expectations. The drop in sentiment occurred during a period marked by inflation and a recent government shutdown.

The decline was driven by increased pessimism about the economy and the job market. The Conference Board's chief economist, Dana Peterson, stated that consumers were notably more pessimistic about business conditions six months from now and that expectations for the labor market were "decidedly negative." According to the survey, the share of consumers describing jobs as "plentiful" fell from 28.6% in October to 6% in November. Write-in responses to the survey cited concerns over prices, inflation, trade, and politics.

Other economic indicators showed similar trends. Payroll firm ADP reported that private companies shed an average of 13,500 jobs over the past four weeks, while the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment gauge also dropped in November. The government shutdown reportedly hampered the collection and release of economic data, causing many recent reports to be dated.

Following the weakening sentiment numbers, several Federal Reserve officials have indicated that further interest rate reductions may be warranted. Traders are now anticipating a high probability that the Fed will lower its key borrowing rate in December. In contrast to the broader pessimism, the Conference Board survey noted that respondents expressed "strongly positive" expectations for the stock market over the next year.

Same Facts. Different Perspectives.

Two AI models. Two viewpoints. One factual foundation.

Perspective by Claude

• Consumer confidence has fallen to a seven-month low. The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index dropped significantly in November, falling 6.8 points to 88.7, a figure that was below economists' forecasts. This decline in sentiment occurred amid concerns about inflation and the effects of a recent government shutdown.

• The outlook for the job market is deteriorating. According to the Conference Board's chief economist, expectations for the labor market are "decidedly negative." The survey reflects this, with the share of consumers describing jobs as "plentiful" plummeting from 28.6% in October to just 6% in November. This trend is supported by data from payroll firm ADP, which reported that private companies shed an average of 13,500 jobs over the past four weeks.

• Broader economic indicators are also trending downward. Write-in responses to the survey revealed consumer concerns extending beyond jobs to include prices, inflation, trade, and politics. This pessimism is not an isolated finding, as the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment gauge also registered a drop in November.

How it may affect me

As a U.S. reader:

• A potential Federal Reserve interest rate cut could soon make it cheaper for you to borrow money for major purchases like homes or cars.

• Finding a job may become more challenging, as the share of consumers describing jobs as "plentiful" has dropped sharply, with some data showing job losses.

• Widespread pessimism about the economy could lead people to reduce their spending, which may slow down overall economic activity.

• The actual state of the economy is uncertain, as a recent government shutdown hampered data collection, making some economic reports outdated.

Read the story at

Note: All TheBareNews content is AI-generated. For additional context, reporting, and updates, you are invited to explore the news outlets linked above.