US consumer confidence rises to 91.7 in October, its first gain in four months
The Conference Board’s index beat forecasts by a wide margin, while the University of Michigan’s sentiment gauge stayed near record lows.
The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index rose to 91.7 in October from 84.2 in September1. Economists had expected a reading of 81, which would have been a further decline1. It was the first increase in the index in four months3.
Americans’ views of both present and future business conditions improved, according to the survey4. The recovery came as gasoline prices eased a little during the month6. The improvement was larger than forecasters had anticipated and was described as unexpected7. The October reading left the index 7.5 points above its September level1.
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Why it matters to investors
The Conference Board figure contrasts with a separate household survey. The University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index came in at 48 for October, down from 48.1 in September2. That final October figure was revised up from a preliminary reading of 46.37, but it still left sentiment hovering near record-low levels5.
The two surveys measure different things. The Conference Board’s index generally focuses on labor market conditions, whereas the Michigan survey tracks a separate measure of consumer sentiment3. A sharp rise in one alongside a near-record low in the other5 gives a mixed picture of how households view their finances.
The Conference Board result also arrived after three months without a gain3, so October breaks a run of weaker readings rather than extending a trend. Improved expectations for business conditions4 are the part of the survey most closely tied to the outlook for hiring and spending.
What to watch
The first question is whether the rebound holds beyond a single month. A second rise would confirm a turn in the series; a fall back toward September’s 84.21 would suggest October was a one-off.
The gap between the two surveys is the second marker. The Michigan index at 482 remains close to record lows5, and a narrowing of that gap would show whether better views of business conditions4 are spreading to broader sentiment.
Gasoline prices are the third. Easing pump prices were linked to the October recovery6, so any renewed rise would bear on the next readings of both measures. Because the Conference Board index leans on labor market conditions3, its next release will also be read as a household view of the job market.
Sources
- U.S. Consumer Confidence Improved in October, Conference Board Says, wsj.com (2026-10-27)
- U.S. Consumer Confidence Improved in October, Conference Board Says - WSJ, wsj.com (2026-10-27)
- US Consumer Confidence Rises for First Time in Four Months - Bloomberg, bloomberg.com (2026-10-27)
- Consumer sentiment increased in October: Conference Board - The Hill, thehill.com (2026-10-27)
- U.S. Consumer Confidence Improved in October, Conference Board Says | Morningstar, morningstar.com (2026-10-27)
- U.S. consumer confidence recovers in October as gas prices eased a bit - Yahoo Finance, finance.yahoo.com (2026-10-27)
- US consumer confidence unexpectedly sees major improvement in October, finance.yahoo.com (2026-10-27)
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