U.S. Consumer Confidence Rose as Delta Covid-19 Wave Eased

The rise in confidence can be attributed to Americans’ easing concerns over Covid-19, said Lynn Franco, senior director of economic indicators at the Conference Board.

Short-term inflation concerns rose to a 13-year high, but consumers indicated they planned to spend on big-ticket items in the final quarter of this year, Ms. Franco added. “The proportion of consumers planning to purchase homes, automobiles, and major appliances all increased in October—a sign that consumer spending will continue to support economic growth,” she said.

Almost half of the respondents also said they planned to take a vacation in the next six months, the highest level since the pandemic hit in March of 2020.

Consumer confidence hints at Americans’ willingness to spend on goods and services, a major driver of the U.S. economy. Confidence rose to almost pre-pandemic levels over the spring, but later waned amid the spread of the Delta variant, which has weighed on Americans’ mood in the past few months.

The present situation index, which reflects consumers’ assessment of current business and labor-market conditions, rose to 147.4 in October from 144.3 in September. The expectations index, which gauges short-term outlook for income, business and labor-market conditions, climbed to 91.3 from 86.7 the previous month.

“Unsurprisingly, with robust labor market expectations, consumers are saying they want to spend again,” MetLife Investment Management’s chief market strategist Drew Matus said.

Economists say a decline in Covid-19 cases should bolster consumer confidence in the months ahead, but persistent shortages of goods, delivery delays and rising prices into the holiday season could hurt sentiment.

Another consumer sentiment survey carried out by the University of Michigan showed that Americans’ sentiment fell in early October. Divergences between both indicators are common as the University of Michigan survey is more focused on consumers’ attitudes toward buying conditions, while The Conference Board’s survey puts more emphasis on labor-market conditions.