#United States #New York #Consumer Confidence #Economic Outlook #The Conference Board

US Consumer Confidence Index Shows Improvement

The latest data from The Conference Board reveals a slight uptick in the Consumer Confidence Index®, which rose by 2.0 points in July 2025 to reach 97.2, compared to June's revised figure of 95.2. While this improvement signals a lessening of consumer anxiety about the future, the overall confidence remains notably below the previous year's levels.

Current Business Conditions

The Present Situation Index, which evaluates consumers’ perceptions of current business and labor market conditions, experienced a slight decline of 1.5 points, now sitting at 131.5. This dip suggests that while consumers are experiencing some optimism regarding business conditions, their assessments of job availability continue to falter. Indeed, the percentage of consumers reporting that jobs are hard to get has risen to 18.9%, the highest figure since March 2021.

In July, the Expectations Index saw a noteworthy increase of 4.5 points, climbing to 74.4. However, this remains under the crucial threshold of 80, typically associated with recession signals. Importantly, this index's components reflected improved consumer sentiment regarding future income and business conditions.

Demographics and Political Affiliation

The latest survey illustrates that the modest rise in consumer confidence is prevalent among individuals aged 35 and older, with these sentiments spreading across various income levels – apart from those earning less than $15,000 annually. Political affiliations also showcased varied reactions, as confidence among Republican respondents increased, while it remained steady among Democrats and Independents.

Economic Concerns Persist

Despite the overall boost in confidence, consumers expressed ongoing concerns about the economy, particularly regarding tariffs and inflation. References to