Consumer Confidence Improves as Labor Market Concerns Ease, Conference Board Says

12:42 PM EST, 02/24/2026 (MT Newswires) -- US consumer confidence improved this month as labor market concerns eased somewhat, while inflation expectations remained elevated, the Conference Board said Tuesday.

The consumer confidence index rose by 2.2 points to 91.2 in February from last month's upwardly revised 89. The consensus was for an 87.1 print in a Bloomberg survey.

"Confidence ticked up in February after falling in January, as consumers' pessimistic expectations for the future eased somewhat," Conference Board Chief Economist Dana Peterson said. "Nonetheless, the measure remained well below the four-year peak achieved in November 2024."

The present situation measure fell 1.8 points to 120 this month, while the expectations gauge -- which covers income, business and labor market conditions -- increased 4.8 points to 72.

The report showed that 28% of consumers said jobs were "plentiful" in February, up from 25.8% last month, while 20.6% said jobs were "hard to get," up from 19%. Consumers were also less negative about the labor market outlook this month.

Consumers' average and median outlook for one-year inflation were little changed, but remained elevated, according to the Conference Board. Consumers' plans to spend on big-ticket items over the next six months increased this month, while services spending plans "softened somewhat," but "remained healthy, the report showed.

References to prices, inflation and the cost of goods remained at the top of consumers' minds, while mentions of trade and politics also increased in February, Peterson said.

Last week, a survey by the University of Michigan showed that consumer sentiment held largely steady this month, with high prices still a widespread concern even as year-ahead inflation expectations hit a 13-month low.

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