#USConsumerConfidence US consumer confidence took a hit in December, falling to 104.7, down 8.1 points from the previous month ¹. This decline was largely driven by concerns about the future, with the Expectations Index tumbling 12.6 points to 81.1, just above the threshold that usually signals a recession ahead.

Consumers' assessments of current business conditions also eroded somewhat, with 19.1% saying conditions were "good," down from 21.6% in November ¹. However, their appraisals of the labor market improved, with 37% saying jobs were "plentiful," up from 33.6% in November.

Looking ahead, consumers were less optimistic about future business conditions, with 21.7% expecting improvement, down from 24.7% in November ¹. They were also less confident about their income prospects, with 17.2% expecting an increase, down from 20.7% in November.

It's worth noting that the next release of the Consumer Confidence Index is scheduled for January 28th ¹.