US consumer confidence sinks to lowest level since 2014

U.S. consumer confidence plunged in September to 81.9, its lowest level since April 2014, as households faced a high cost of living and economic uncertainty tied to the Iran war. The Conference Board said the index fell 6.7 points, while consumers cited higher prices, especially for goods, services, oil and gas. The weak reading comes as midterm elections approach and shopping season begins.

The Conference Board consumer confidence index fell 6.7 points in September to 81.9, the lowest level since April 2014.

Dana Peterson said consumers’ write-in responses were mostly pessimistic and that references to prices and the high cost of goods and services rose sharply.

U.S. gasoline prices are up almost 50 percent since the start of the Iran war, according to AAA motor club data.

Consumers also frequently cited politics, trade and employment in their comments, though less often than prices and fuel costs.

Heather Long of Navy Federal Credit Union said the data is concerning as the pre-Christmas shopping season begins.

Published Sep 30, 2026 3:21 am KST

Shoppers walks through a produce section at a grocery store in Washington, D.C., Jul. 24. Reuters-Yonhap

WASHINGTON — U.S. consumer confidence plunged sharply in September to a level not seen since 2014, according to a key benchmark published on Tuesday, with U.S. households battered by a high cost of living and economic uncertainty from the Iran war.

The Conference Board's consumer confidence index fell by 6.7 points to 81.9 this month, its lowest level since April 2014.

The high cost of living in the United States is a major issue as the country heads into key midterm elections in November, where Democrats are seeking to wrest control of Congress from U.S. President Donald Trump's Republican Party.

"Consumers' write-in responses regarding factors affecting the economy were mostly pessimistic in September," said Dana Peterson, chief economist at the Conference Board.

"References to prices, the high cost of goods and services, and oil and gas prices in particular, rose to new heights, reflecting September's surge in fuel costs."

Global oil prices have skyrocketed since Trump and U.S. ally Israel launched the war against Iran in late February, with Tehran's retaliatory action targeting Washington's allies in the Gulf and virtually shutting a key energy trading route.

In the United States, the average price of a gallon of regular gasoline is up almost 50 percent since the start of the war, according to data from the AAA motor club.

"Comments about war/conflict eased this month but remained elevated," said Peterson. "Consumers also frequently cited politics, trade, and employment in their write-in responses, though to a lesser extent."

Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, said the new data was of concern.

"American consumers are worried about this economy. That's alarming just as the most important shopping season of the year kicks off," she said, referring to the pre-Christmas period that the U.S. retail sector relies on.

由于生活成本高企以及与伊朗战争相关的经济不确定性，美国9月份消费者信心指数暴跌至81.9，创下2014年4月以来的最低水平。世界大型企业联合会表示，该指数下跌6.7点，消费者普遍反映物价上涨，尤其是商品、服务、石油和天然气的价格。这一疲软的指数正值中期选举临近和购物季开始之际。

美国经济咨商局消费者信心指数9月份下跌6.7点至81.9，为2014年4月以来的最低水平。

达纳·彼得森表示，消费者的来信大多持悲观态度，提及物价和商品服务成本高昂的次数急剧增加。

据美国汽车协会（AAA）数据显示，自伊朗战争爆发以来，美国汽油价格上涨了近50%。

消费者在评论中也经常提及政治、贸易和就业，但提及价格和燃料成本的频率低于提及这些方面。

海军联邦信贷联盟的希瑟·朗表示，随着圣诞节前的购物季开始，这些数据令人担忧。

发布于2026年9月30日凌晨3:21（韩国标准时间）

7月24日，一名顾客在华盛顿特区一家杂货店的蔬果区购物。（路透社-韩联社）

华盛顿——周二公布的一项关键基准数据显示，美国消费者信心在9月份大幅下滑至2014年以来的最低水平，美国家庭受到高昂生活成本和伊朗战争带来的经济不确定性的打击。

美国经济咨商局消费者信心指数本月下跌6.7点至81.9，为2014年4月以来的最低水平。

随着美国即将于 11 月举行关键的中期选举，生活成本高昂已成为一个主要问题。在这次选举中，民主党人正寻求从美国总统唐纳德·特朗普的共和党手中夺取国会的控制权。

“9月份，消费者对影响经济的因素的书面回复大多持悲观态度，”世界大型企业联合会首席经济学家达纳·彼得森表示。

“提及物价、商品和服务的高昂成本，尤其是石油和天然气价格的次数都达到了新高，这反映了9月份燃料成本的飙升。”

自特朗普及其盟友以色列于 2 月下旬对伊朗发动战争以来，全球油价飙升。德黑兰的报复行动针对华盛顿在海湾地区的盟友，并实际上关闭了一条重要的能源贸易通道。

根据美国汽车协会（AAA）的数据，自战争开始以来，美国普通汽油的平均价格每加仑上涨了近 50%。

彼得森说：“本月有关战争/冲突的评论有所减少，但仍然居高不下。消费者在书面回复中也经常提及政治、贸易和就业，尽管程度有所减轻。”

海军联邦信贷联盟首席经济学家希瑟·朗表示，新数据令人担忧。

“美国消费者对当前的经济形势感到担忧。这令人担忧，因为一年中最重要的购物季即将开始，”她说道，指的是美国零售业赖以生存的圣诞节前销售旺季。