Consumer confidence edged higher in February, but still remained below the heights reached in late 2024, a monthly survey from The Conference Board said.
Research group The Conference Board said its consumer confidence index rose to 91.2 from an upwardly revised 89 in January. Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal had expected a reading of 86.8.
The Present Situation Index — based on consumers’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions – decreased by 1.8 points to 120.0 in February. The Expectations Index – based on consumers’ short-term outlook for income, business, and labor market conditions – rose by 4.8 points to 72.0. The cutoff for preliminary results was February 17, 2026.
“Confidence ticked up in February after falling in January, as consumers’ pessimistic expectations for the future eased somewhat,” said Dana M Peterson, chief economist, The Conference Board. “Four of five components of the Index firmed. Nonetheless, the measure remained well below the four-year peak achieved in November 2024 (112.8).
The Present Situation Index continued to decline, as net views on current business conditions fell to +0.7 percent. 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”—rising 0.6 ppts to +7.4 percent. All three Expectations Index components advanced slightly in February: expectations for business and labor market conditions six months from now were less negative, while expectations for incomes were more positive.
Among demographic groups, confidence on a six-month moving average basis ticked up in February for consumers under age 35, who remained the most optimistic group. Confidence among respondents aged 35 and older edged down. Relatedly, on a six-month moving average basis, confidence among Generation Z rose, consistent with soundings from the under-35 group, but fell among other generations. By income, confidence on a six-month moving-average basis continued to dip across most brackets. Consumer confidence among Republican and Independent voters revived in February after a dip in January, while Democrats remained less optimistic.
Peterson added: “Consumers’ write-in responses on factors affecting the economy continued to skew towards pessimism. Comments about prices, inflation, and the cost of goods remained at the top of consumer’s minds. Mentions of trade and politics also increased in February. Labor market mentions eased a bit in February, while observations about immigration increased somewhat.”
