Main takeaways:
  • Conference Board consumer confidence dropped 5 points to 97.6 in October.
  • Consumers' perception of the employment conditions worsened in October, but it is still above the level observed in the second half of 2014 -- a period where employment growth was booming.
  • Consumers’ optimism about the short-term outlook dropped 2.8 points to 88. It often leads consumption growth...
  • ...but despite the current slowdown, CB expectations index is associated with a healthy 2.6% real growth in consumption.
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index reading for October dropped 5 points to 97.6. Despite the monthly drop, the level of consumer confidence appears to have stabilized at a relatively high level.


Consumers perception of the employment conditions also worsened in October.
Less consumers think jobs are plentiful...

...and more find jobs are harder to get...

... but the overall employment condition is still above the level observed in the second half of 2014 -- a period where employment growth was booming.

Consumer expectations off the highs and may have turned down...

...but the present situation index does not seem to have topped.

Consumers’ optimism about the short-term outlook often leads consumption growth...

...but despite the current slowdown, CB expectations index is associated with a healthy 2.6% real growth in consumption.