U.S. Consumer Confidence Falls to 94.2

U.S. consumer confidence fell to 94.2 in September from a revised 97.8 in August, the lowest reading since April and a larger-than-expected drop versus forecasts near 96.0. The Conference Board said the Present Situation Index slid seven points to 125.4 while the Expectations Index fell to 73.4, remaining below the 80 level often viewed as a recession warning. The decline coincides with weakening labor-market signals — job openings slipped to 7.23 million in August, down about 422,000 year‑over‑year — and rising inflation concerns. Analysts cited policy and political headwinds, including tariffs introduced in April and a looming federal government shutdown that could disrupt data, and financial markets reacted with the dollar softening (DXY near 97.80).