October US Consumer Confidence Rises on Increases in Current Conditions, Expectations

10:23 AM EDT, 10/27/2026 (MT Newswires) -- The Conference Board's measure of consumer confidence rose to 91.7 in October from 84.2 in September, compared with the expectations for a decrease to a reading of 81.0 expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg. The present situation reading increased to 120.4 from 111.8, while the expectations reading increased to 72.6 from 65.7. The current assessments of both employment and business conditions improved in October. "The recovery was in line with retail gasoline prices easing from September to October," said Fergus McCormick, Senior Economist, Global Indicators at The Conference Board. "Yet, despite the increase in October, consumer confidence remained on the long-term downward trend that's persisted over the past few years." Consumers plan to spend less on services and durable goods over the next six months due to higher price levels and persistent inflation that have diminished consumers' purchasing power, McCormick noted. 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.