EmailThe Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index increased slightly in September from an upwardly revised 45.2 (from 44.5) in August to 45.4. The Briefing.com consensus expected consumer confidence increased to 46.6.
The Present Situation Index decreased from 34.3 in August to 32.5 in September. The Expectations Index increased from 52.4 to 54.0.
Typically, positive changes in confidence are correlated with improvements in employment, gasoline/oil prices, and stock market growth, as well as positive media reports. The underlying details did not shift much from August levels. Hence, the confidence level was virtually unchanged in September.
The limited change in September confidence was in-line with the preliminary reading of the September University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index. That index increased modestly from 55.7 in August to 57.8 in September.
