American consumer confidence drowns to the lowest level in four years Donald Trump News

The confidence of consumers in the United States continued its acute decline 2025, as the opinions of Americans over their financial future decreased to its lowest level in 12 years, driven by increasing concern about definitions and inflation.

The Conference Council stated on Tuesday that its consumer confidence index decreased 7.2 points in March to 92.9, which is the fourth monthly decrease in a row and the slightest reading of it since January 2021. Reading was less than analysts’ expectations for reading 94.5, according to a poll conducted by FactSet.

The Business Group found that the a scale of Americans’ short -term income, business and labor market fell 9.6 points to 65.2.

This is the lowest reading in 12 years and much less than the 80 threshold, which the Conference Council says can indicate a possible stagnation in the near future. The Board of Directors stated that the percentage of consumers who expect a stagnation is still rising for a period of nine months.

“The optimism of consumers about future income – which has strongly withstood in the past few months – has disappeared, indicating that concerns about the economy and the labor market have begun to spread in consumer assessments of their personal stances,” said Stephanie Gouachard, chief economist at the Conference Council.

Economists learned about the American definitions, Donald Trump, respectively, by economists to plant confusion and uncertainty that they said make it difficult for companies to plan for the future, at the expense of the economy.

Trump indicated on Monday that not all his duties threatened on April 2, and some countries may get a break, but at the same time he said that the definitions of imported cars will come soon.

“He shakes consumers,” said Karl Winberg, the chief economist in high -frequency economies. “In a big personal danger, we will give up that chaos in Washington has to do with this. The decline in consumer morale since the November elections can no longer be removed as a coincidence.”

The fourth consecutive monthly decline in confidence a decline Similar deterioration Earlier this month in managing consumer feelings at the University of Michigan, who also wiped all the gains achieved in the aftermath of Trump’s electoral victory in November.

“Useful pressure” on profits

The Trump administration has greatly reduced the replacement mood between the Americans, saying it does not necessarily reflect what is happening in the actual economy. This argument is similar to what officials in the administration of former US President Joe Biden said with high inflation, the suppression of consumer confidence without undermining growth.

However, some of the largest retailers in the country, who have noticed a shift in consumer behavior, tell a different story.

Walmart flourished with Americans trying to compensate for high prices by searching for deals. Late last month, the country’s largest fragmentation reduced its profit expectations for this year. Its sales expectations were also conservative and the company does not include the potential impact of definitions in its forecast for 2025.

The sales of the target and its profits declined during the decisive quarter of the holidays, and the company expected that there would be a “meaningful pressure” on its profits to start the year in part due to the customs tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China.

MAKY’s, Best Buy, Abercrombie & Fitch, Dollaar General and others also became careful about their expectations in 2025, where many referred to “economic uncertainty.”

The Conference Council surveyed that purchasing plans for both homes and cars have decreased. However, in a somewhat surprise given the anxiety of the respondents about the future, the intentions of the purchase of large ticket elements such as devices have increased. The Board of Directors said that this may reflect the desire to buy before the definitions begin and increase prices.

While inflation declined from its highest levels during the postpartum recovery, it remained above the Federal Reserve of 2 percent. These prices, which are still linked, in addition to the declared definitions of many imported goods, make Americans feel exposed to spending as concerns about the Mount of Economy.

Consumers seemed increasingly confident in heading to the end of the year, generously spent at the end of 2024. However, in January 2025, US retail sales decreased sharply, although cold weather participated in some blame.

Earlier this month, the government stated that the Americans climbed their spending in February after the sharp decline in the early year, but only.

The council stated on Tuesday that consumers’ view of the current circumstances decreased 3.6 points to 134.5.

The consumer confidence index measures the evaluation of both Americans of the current economic conditions and their expectations for the next six months.

Consumer spending represents about two -thirds of US economic activity and is closely monitored by economists for signs about the feeling of the American consumer.