U.S. Consumer Confidence Hits Post-Pandemic Low Amid Sharp Drop in Expectations
SHERIDAN, WYOMING – May 6, 2025 – U.S. consumer confidence tumbled for the fifth consecutive month in April, according to the latest data from The Conference Board, highlighting growing economic anxiety and a potential warning sign for future business and labor market conditions. The Consumer Confidence Index® fell to 86.0—its lowest level since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic—driven by a significant deterioration in consumers' outlook on business conditions, employment, and personal finances.
Expectations Plummet to Recessionary Levels
The Expectations Index fell sharply to 54.4, marking its lowest reading since October 2011 and well below the 80-point threshold that typically signals a forthcoming recession. Consumers expressed a distinctly negative outlook across all forward-looking indicators: