Consumer confidence in the United States unexpectedly fell in December, according to a survey from the Conference Board released Tuesday.
The Conference Board's U.S. consumer confidence index fell to a reading of 38.0 in December, following November's downwardly revised 44.7 level and the all-time low of 38.8 reached in October. Economists had expected the survey to rise to 45.5 in December.
The decline was due solely to the present situation component, which fell to 29.4 from 42.3 in November, while the expectations component fell to 43.8 from 46.2 in November.
"The further erosion of the Consumer Confidence Index reflects the rapid and steep deterioration of economic conditions that occurred in the fourth quarter of 2008," said Lynn Franco, director of The Conference Board Consumer Research Center. "The Present Situation Index is now close to levels last seen in the months following the 1990-91 recession, but is not as low as levels reached during the 1981-82 recession."
By Stephen Huebl and edited by Sarah Sussman
©CEP News Ltd. 2008