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Consumer Confidence Rises to 92.8 in April

4/29/2026

Summary

Consumer Confidence Rises

Consumer confidence index rose to 92.8 in April from 92.2 in March.
Present Situation Index slipped 0.3 to 123.8 as Expectations Index rose 1.2 to 72.2.
Labor-market differential rose 1.4, with 16.1% expecting more jobs versus 15.4% in March, while job expectations fell to 26.9% from 27.8% and hopes slipped to 18.6% from 19.2%.

Summary

Ceasefire Boosts Confidence

The Conference Board said a fragile U.S.–Iran ceasefire may have helped lift April consumer confidence unexpectedly.
Consumer spending now focuses on cheap thrills and essential services rather than costly discretionary items.
The University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment gauge fell to a record low in April, contrasting with the Conference Board’s modest confidence gain.
Analysts expect the Federal Reserve to hold interest rates steady this week as renewed inflationary pressures emerge.

Summary

Fed Holds Rates

The Federal Reserve (Fed) opened a two-day policy meeting on Tuesday, likely keeping the benchmark rate at 3.50%-3.75%.
Large tax refunds this year have cushioned consumers from higher gasoline prices while vehicle-purchase intentions reached a near 1½-year high.
Home prices rose 1.7% through February after a 1.8% jump in January, while unemployment fell to 4.3% in March, raising the labor-market differential to 7.5% from 6.1%.

History

Historical Context

The 2008 crisis peaked with Lehman Brothers’ September collapse, leading Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Fed Chair Ben Bernanke to approve a $700 billion emergency bailout on September 18 and the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act on October 3. The Fed cut the federal-funds rate to 0-0.25% in December 2008. Today the Conference Board’s confidence index is 92.8, up from 45.6.

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Consumer Confidence Rises

Consumer confidence index rose to 92.8 in April from 92.2 in March.
Present Situation Index slipped 0.3 to 123.8 as Expectations Index rose 1.2 to 72.2.
Labor-market differential rose 1.4, with 16.1% expecting more jobs versus 15.4% in March, while job expectations fell to 26.9% from 27.8% and hopes slipped to 18.6% from 19.2%.

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