Consumer confidence declined in July as consumers’ assessment of current business and labor-market conditions softened for the third consecutive month,

 The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index decreased by 1.4 points to 90.8   in July, down from an upwardly revised 92.2 in June.  (The survey period for this month’s preliminary results was July 1–22, encompassing ongoing conflict in the Middle East.)

“Consumer confidence moderated slightly in July, continuing a general downward sloping trajectory since late 2021,” said Dana M Peterson, chief economist, The Conference Board. “Consumer appraisals of current business conditions and, to a lesser extent, perceptions of the current labor market both softened.”

 Looking ahead, Peterson added, consumers anticipate little improvement in business conditions over the next six months, but expectations for the labor market were slightly less negative.

Consumer confidence slips in July amid concerns about grocery, fuel prices | Chain Store Age