September 2026 consumer confidence — quick answer: The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index fell 6.7 points to 81.9 in September 2026, down from 88.6 in August. Both the Present Situation and Expectations indexes declined. The result shows weaker survey sentiment about current conditions and the near-term outlook; it is not a direct count of household spending, a recession declaration, or a forecast for stocks.
Updated September 30, 2026. The Conference Board’s preliminary survey cutoff was September 23, so the reading reflects responses collected before the release date.
September 2026 Consumer Confidence: key figures
| Measure | September | Change from August |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Index (1985=100) | 81.9 | Down 6.7 points from 88.6 |
| Present Situation Index | 109.3 | Down 7.9 points |
| Expectations Index | 63.6 | Down 5.9 points; third consecutive monthly decline |
| Consumers saying jobs are plentiful | 23.6% | Down from 24.5% |
| Consumers saying jobs are hard to get | 21.9% | Up from 20.3% |
Source: The Conference Board’s September 2026 Consumer Confidence release. The index is benchmarked to 1985=100.
What moved the September reading?
The Present Situation Index captures respondents’ assessments of current business and labor-market conditions. It fell 7.9 points to 109.3. The Expectations Index asks about the short-term outlook for income, business conditions, and the labor market; it declined 5.9 points to 63.6, its third straight monthly decrease.
Labor-market responses weakened in both directions: the share saying jobs were plentiful edged lower, while the share saying jobs were hard to get increased. The Conference Board also reported that fewer respondents expected business conditions and job availability to improve over the next six months, while more expected them to worsen. That makes the expectations component worth tracking alongside the headline.
The survey ran from September 1 through September 23. The Conference Board noted that the survey period included a Federal Reserve rate hike and ongoing geopolitical tensions. That timing is context, not proof that either event caused the full decline; the survey does not isolate the effect of individual news events.
What does an 81.9 reading mean?
The index is a survey measure of consumers’ views and expectations. A drop means responses were less positive on balance than in the previous month; it does not mean consumer spending fell by 6.7%, because the index is measured in points rather than dollars or a percentage change in purchases.
The Expectations Index at 63.6 indicates that near-term outlook responses were weaker than the current-conditions component. Analysts often watch expectations for signs of changing confidence, but one monthly survey should be interpreted with other evidence—such as actual retail sales, employment, inflation, and household income—rather than treated as a stand-alone recession signal.
Consumer Confidence vs. Michigan Consumer Sentiment
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index and the University of Michigan’s Index of Consumer Sentiment are separate surveys. They use different questionnaires, methods, and publication schedules, so their index levels should not be compared as if they were readings on one shared scale. A divergence between them is not necessarily a contradiction: each captures consumer attitudes through its own survey design.
For this week’s other U.S. data releases, see our September 28–October 2 economic calendar. Our Q2 2026 GDP update explains today’s separate BEA release; GDP measures economic output, not survey sentiment.
What to watch after the confidence report
- Persistence: Does the Expectations Index continue falling in October, or does the move reverse?
- Labor-market perceptions: Track the gap between consumers who say jobs are plentiful and those who say jobs are hard to get, while remembering this is survey evidence.
- Actual household activity: Compare sentiment with official spending and income data rather than assuming stated intentions equal purchases.
- Inflation and rates: Read the survey alongside official CPI/PCE inflation and Federal Reserve information; consumer opinions about prices are not measured inflation.
Frequently asked questions
What was the U.S. Consumer Confidence Index in September 2026?
The Conference Board’s index was 81.9 (1985=100), down 6.7 points from 88.6 in August.
Why did consumer confidence fall in September?
Both the Present Situation and Expectations indexes weakened. Survey responses also showed fewer consumers saying jobs were plentiful and more saying jobs were hard to get. The survey identifies respondents’ views; it does not establish a single cause for the decline.
Is the Consumer Confidence Index the same as Michigan sentiment?
No. The Conference Board and University of Michigan publish separate consumer surveys with different methods and scales.
Does a reading below 100 mean a recession is certain?
No. The index is not a binary recession test. It should be assessed with a wider range of economic data and over time.
Primary source
The Conference Board — U.S. Consumer Confidence and September 2026 release