US CB Consumer Confidence Falls To 89.4, Misses Consensus

The United States Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index for August 2026 printed at 89.4, missing the 90.3 consensus estimate. The index fell from a revised prior reading of 90.2 in July 2026, marking a 0.8-point decline in consumer sentiment between the two months. This latest reading continues a softening trend from June’s 91.2 level and keeps confidence below the 100 mark that historically aligns with stronger consumer conditions. The Conference Board reported weaker assessments of current business conditions and slightly less optimistic views of the labor market as key drivers of the August decline in the headline index. Compared with earlier in 2026, when readings such as February’s 91.2 and April’s 92.8 signaled somewhat firmer sentiment, the August figure underscores a broader macro backdrop of moderating growth and persistent attention to inflation and borrowing costs in the United States. Market participants now track how this below-consensus confidence print interacts with Federal Reserve communications, interest-rate expectations, and upcoming US data on retail sales, personal spending, and labor market indicators. Updated 8/25/26