The numbers: A survey of U.S. consumer confidence dropped in June to a 16-month low of 98.7, as Americans grew more worried about high gas and food prices and the possibility of another recession.
Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal had forecast the index to drop to 100 from revised 103.2 in May.
Also read: Turbulent times: Just 19% of business leaders are confident in the economy
Big picture: The U.S. economy has slowed and is likely to keep slowing with the Federal Reserve raising interest rates to try to tame the highest inflation in 40 years. Gas prices have soared, the cost of groceries have risen the most in decades and housing is very expensive.
Higher rates raise the cost of borrowing and tend to make consumers and businesses spend less.
What’s kept consumer confidence from falling even further is the strongest U.S. labor market in decades. Many companies are still hiring and layoffs are at a record low.
Most people feel secure in their jobs. As long as that remains the case, the economy might be able to avert a recession. But if layoffs start to rise appreciably all bets are off.
Key details: A measure of how consumers feel about the economy right now dipped to 147.1 from 147.4, The nonprofit Conference Board said Tuesday.
A similar confidence gauge that looks ahead six months fell more sharply to 66.4 from 73.7.
High inflation and talk of recession are big reasons why. Expectations for inflation rose to 8% in June to mark the highest level since the survey started keeping track in 1987.
“Consumers’ grimmer outlook was driven by increasing concerns about inflation, in particular rising gas and food prices,” said Lynn Franco, senior director of economic indicators at the board.
Looking ahead: “It looks like this is another piece of evidence showing concerns about a recession are rising among consumers,” said Thomas Simons, money market economist at Jefferies LLC.
Market reaction: The Dow Jones Industrial Average
DJIA,
and S&P 500
SPX,
fell in mid-Tuesday trades, giving back earlier gains.
