December US Consumer Confidence Falls on Sharp Drop in Current Conditions Reading

10:14 AM EST, 12/23/2025 (MT Newswires) -- The Conference Board's measure of consumer confidence fell to 89.1 in December from 92.9 in November, below a reading of 91.0 expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

The present situation reading fell sharply to 116.8 from 126.3, while the expectations reading remained at 70.7.

The current assessment of both employment and business conditions both deteriorated in December.

"Despite an upward revision in November related to the end of the shutdown, consumer confidence fell again in December and remained well below this year's January peak," said Dana Peterson, Chief Economist at The Conference Board. "Four of five components of the overall index fell, while one was at a level signaling notable weakness."

The monthly consumer confidence index from the Conference Board measures consumer sentiment in the current month, with the headline index a combination of the present situation and expectations for the near future. The report also includes the current and future assessments for business and employment conditions.

An increase in the reading suggests consumers are more confident, a positive for stocks if that confidence translates into spending. Increased demand is usually inflationary, a negative for bonds.

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