Consumers’ income expectations were slightly more optimistic and their perceptions of the labor market improved, but otherwise little else changed from March.

NEW YORK — The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® edged up by 0.6 points to 92.8 (1985=100) in April, from 92.2 in March's upwardly revised reading.

"Consumer confidence edged up in April but was overall little changed, despite material concern about rising gasoline prices as the war in the Middle East prompted a surge in Brent crude oil prices," said Dana M Peterson, chief economist for The Conference Board. "Consumer appraisals of current and expected business conditions declined moderately compared to last month. This was offset by modest improvements in consumers' perceptions of the labor market, both current and expected, as well as income expectations, which were slightly more optimistic in April."

The Present Situation Index – based on consumers' assessment of current business and labor market conditions – retreated by 0.3 points to 123.8. Perceptions of employment conditions improved slightly, with the labor market differential – the share of consumers saying jobs are "plentiful" minus the share saying jobs are "hard to get" – ticking up by 1.4 percentage points.

The Expectations Index – based on consumers' short-term outlook for income, business, and labor market conditions – rose by 1.2 points to 72.2. Two of its three components – net perceptions of labor market and household income conditions six months from now – edged up. Expected business conditions were slightly more pessimistic.

The survey period for this month's preliminary results was April 1–22, a period that included the temporary two-week ceasefire in the Middle East conflict beginning April 8 and the subsequent rebound in U.S. equities.

Among demographic groups, confidence continued to trend downward on a six-month moving average basis for consumers aged 35 and up while younger consumers were a tad more confident in April. Respondents under 35 remained the most optimistic and those 55 and over the least.

On a six-month moving average basis, confidence improved among Millennials and Gen Z but declined among older generations. By income, confidence on a six-month moving average basis varied, but most income groups expressed less optimism.

Consumers' write-in responses on factors affecting the economy continued to skew towards pessimism in April. Comments about prices, oil and gas, and war increased in frequency compared to March – a likely signal of consumers' underlying worries about how the war in the Middle East will impact their pockets.

A two-week ceasefire and a rebound in stock market indices within the survey-sample period (April 1–22) likely helped ease concerns about financial indicators somewhat in April after spiking in March. Still, consumers remained wary. Consumers' average and median 12-month inflation expectations ticked downward but continued to be elevated. The percentage of consumers saying interest rates over the next 12 months will be higher on net rose to nearly 50%. Expectations for higher stock prices a year from now ticked up.

Consumers' plans to buy big-ticket items over the next six months continued to shift from "yes" and "maybe" in February, to "no" in April. Nonetheless, the proportion saying "yes" remained well above the other responses.

Used cars, furniture, TVs, and smartphones remained the most popular items within their respective categories for future purchases. Among pricey items, furniture remains the top expected purchase.

Buying plans for autos continued rising on a six-month moving average basis in April, with used cars remaining the clear preference over new cars.

Homebuying expectations staged a mild recovery on a six-month rolling basis for both existing and new units in the month, with consumers continuing to prefer existing homes to newly built ones. Purchase plans for all types of home furnishings, white goods, and electronics on a six-month moving average basis continued to improve in April.

Present situation

Consumers' views of current business conditions eroded in April:

•22.0% of consumers said business conditions were "good," up from 21.7% in March.

•17.9% said business conditions were "bad," up from 15.8%.

Consumers' views of the labor market improved moderately in April:

•27.3% of consumers said jobs were "plentiful," virtually unchanged from 27.4% in March.

•19.8% of consumers said jobs were "hard to get," down from 21.3%.

Expectations six months from now

Overall, consumers were slightly more pessimistic about future business conditions in April:

•18.9% of consumers expected business conditions to improve, up from 18.1% in March.

•23.6% expected business conditions to worsen, up from 21.4%.

However, consumers were less negative about the labor market outlook in April.

•16.1% of consumers expected more jobs to be available, up from 15.4% in March.

•26.9% anticipated fewer jobs, down from 27.8%.

On net, consumers' outlook for their income prospects was also slightly more optimistic in April.

•18.6% of consumers expected their incomes to increase, down from 19.2% in March.

•Only 12.3% expected their incomes to decline, also down from 13.6%.

The monthly Consumer Confidence Survey®, based on an online sample, is conducted for The Conference Board by Toluna, a technology company that delivers real-time consumer insights and market research through its innovative technology, expertise, and panel of over 36 million consumers. The cutoff date for the preliminary results was April 22.

Source: The Conference Board, April 2026 Consumer Confidence Survey®

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