The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® Virtually Unchanged as Expectations Soften

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® held steady in May, following a gain in April. The Index now stands at 117.2 (1985=100), down marginally from 117.5 in April. The Present Situation Index—based on consumers’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions—increased from 131.9 to 144.3. However, the Expectations Index—based on consumers’ short-term outlook for income, business, and labor market conditions—fell to 99.1 in May, down from 107.9 last month. 

Join Lynn Franco, Senior Director of Economic Indicators and Chief Economist Dana Peterson as they discuss consumers’ waning optimism for the short-term.