Consumer Confidence Drops as Wall Street Prepares for Data Freeze Amid a Government Shutdown
Published September 30, 2025 – Updated Minutes Ago
Consumer confidence falls in September. People show less trust in the economy as Wall Street gets ready for a possible shutdown and a pause in key data releases.
The Conference Board released its report on Tuesday morning. The report shows that the consumer confidence index fell to 94.2, which is 3.6 points lower than August. This reading did not meet the Dow Jones estimate of 96.0 and is the lowest level since April this year.
Impact of the Federal Government Shutdown
Consumer trust falls while nonessential government work stops at midnight. Key economic data stops as well. Wall Street takes note and moves with caution in the market.
Signs of Continued Economic Caution
The Conference Board report shows weak economic signs beyond the overall index:
- The "present situation" index falls to its lowest level in a year. It shows what people think about current business life.
- Views on job availability drop for the ninth month in a row. This drop hits a new low in several years.
Stephanie Guichard, a senior economist at the Conference Board, explained:
"Consumers judged business conditions much less positively than in recent months, and their view on job availability fell for the ninth straight month to a new multiyear low."
Labor Market Shows Signs of Weakness
The labor market has been weak in 2025. Job availability got a small lift in August compared to July. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) said job openings reached 7.23 million in August. This is 19,000 more than in July. Yet, this figure is 5.5% lower—422,000 fewer—than the same period last year.
The BLS’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) is watched closely by Federal Reserve officials. The data shows signs of cooling:
- Hiring slows down.
- Total job separations drop.
- Quits fall by 75,000. This drop shows that many workers feel less sure about finding new jobs after leaving current work.
Market and Economic Outlook
The pause in government data will make it harder for everyone to see the true state of the economy in the coming weeks. Wall Street takes a careful stance. There is worry that the shutdown will stop economic momentum and delay needed budget choices. Meanwhile, consumer sentiment stays low as job worries and economic risks persist in both local and global settings.
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