Consumer confidence continues to fade despite heady economic growth
Updated on: December 23, 2025 / 11:32 AM EST / CBS/AP
TL;DR
- Consumer confidence index fell to 89.1 in December, down from a revised 92.9 in November.
- Prices, inflation, and tariffs were the primary concerns for consumers.
- Perceptions of the job market declined, with fewer consumers reporting plentiful jobs and more finding them hard to get.
- Consumers' assessments of their current economic situation are at their lowest point in five years.
- Despite low confidence, consumer spending remains robust, accounting for two-thirds of economic activity.
- GDP growth accelerated in the third quarter, but job creation has slowed, and the unemployment rate rose to 4.6%.