--- title: "US consumer confidence drops to seven-month low" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/business/us-consumer-confidence-drops-to-seven-month-low" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/us-consumer-confidence-drops-to-seven-month-low" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/business/us-consumer-confidence-drops-to-seven-month-low.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/us-consumer-confidence-drops-to-seven-month-low" category: "Business & Economy" area: "United States" published: "2026-08-25T15:25:14.279Z" source_reported: "2026-08-25T14:54:04.378Z" updated: "2026-08-25T15:25:14.279Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 57 hype_score: 41 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-25T15:15:48.303935+00:00" --- # US consumer confidence drops to seven-month low *Gas prices remain above $4 per gallon amid conflict in Iran, impacting outlook.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. The central claim is attributed to the Conference Board and the Associated Press, with figures provided. - Craft 57 of 100, higher is better. The reporting includes context on previous readings and mentions affected parties, but lacks quotes from those responsible. - Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Headlines use phrases like 'lowest level in 7 months' and 'gas stuck above $4' which are mildly sensational. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - US consumer confidence fell to 89.4 in August, the lowest level in seven months, down from 90.2 in July. - Gasoline prices in the US have remained above $4 per gallon, a factor linked to the ongoing conflict in Iran. - Americans' views of their present situation improved, but their outlook for the next six months worsened. - The US job market saw employers cut 23,000 jobs in July, with previous months' figures revised down by 103,000. American consumer confidence declined in August, reaching its lowest point in seven months. The Conference Board reported its consumer confidence index fell to 89.4 from 90.2 in July. This decrease occurred as gasoline prices in the U.S. continued to stay above $4 per gallon, a situation attributed to the ongoing conflict in Iran. While respondents reported an improvement in their views of the current economic situation, their optimism for the short-term future soured. The U.S. job market also showed signs of weakness. Employers cut 23,000 jobs in July. Furthermore, revisions to previous months' data erased 103,000 jobs from earlier payroll reports. Despite these factors, consumers' views of the current labor market improved slightly, with 27% describing jobs as 'plentiful' in August, up from 24.4% in July. However, expectations for the next six months were more negative, with only 14.6% anticipating more job availability, down from 16.4% in July. ## Disagreement on historical context Associated Press, Rocky Mountain Outlook, The Toronto Star, The Hamilton Spectator, Welland Tribune.ca, and The Winnipeg Free Press reported that consumer confidence has been within the same lukewarm range since the beginning of the year. The Associated Press also noted that readings were consistently above 100 in late 2024 and early 2025. The Globe & Mail's digest mentioned that in late 2024 and early 2025 the consumer confidence index readings were consistently above 100. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated, centre-rated, or right-rated reports mentioned the specific figures for respondents' views on their present situation improving or their short-term outlook soured. The left-rated and centre-rated reports did not mention the specific figures for the job market, such as the percentage of respondents who said jobs were 'plentiful' or expected more jobs to be available. ## Who covered it Shares of the 15 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 47% (7) - Centre: 46% (7) - Right: 7% (1) 1 of 16 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-25T15:15:48.303935+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 1 time; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-25T15:30:26.103Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Reports from the left-rated outlets focused on the decline in consumer confidence and its connection to elevated gas prices. Associated Press, Rocky Mountain Outlook, The Toronto Star, The Hamilton Spectator, Welland Tribune.ca, and The Winnipeg Free Press all highlighted that the ongoing conflict in Iran has kept gas prices above $4 per gallon. Associated Press also noted that the decline in confidence could pose a risk to President Donald Trump and Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections, which are less than 70 days away. This report also detailed the job market figures, including the job cuts in July and revisions to previous months, and mentioned the Federal Reserve's inflation gauge. ### Centre - Centre-rated outlets led with the fall in consumer confidence and the continued high gasoline prices. CTV News, Castanet, The Globe & Mail, The Record, WKMG, and Winnipeg Free Press all reported that confidence fell to its lowest level in seven months as gas prices remained elevated. The Globe & Mail's digest also noted that readings were consistently above 100 in late 2024 and early 2025. Washington Top News mentioned that the ongoing conflict in Iran keeps gas prices steadily above $4 a gallon. ### Right - Seeking Alpha's report focused on the slip in consumer confidence, noting the U.S. Consumer Confidence Index was 89.4 in August, compared to a consensus of 90.1 and a revised 90.2 in July. The digest also stated that the expectations index sank. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 9 - unknown: 1 - veryHigh: 6 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Dagens industri](https://di.se/live/humoret-sjonk-hos-usas-hushall-i-augusti) — US Household Sentiment Fell in August - [Rocky Mountain Outlook](https://rmoutlook.com/national-business/us-consumer-confidence-falls-to-lowest-level-in-7-months-with-gas-stuck-above-4-12703165) — US consumer confidence falls to lowest level in 7 months with gas stuck above $4 - [Castanet](https://castanet.net/news/Business/629088/US-consumer-confidence-falls-to-lowest-level-in-7-months-as-gas-prices-remain-elevated) — US consumer confidence falls to lowest level in 7 months as gas prices remain elevated - [The Globe & Mail](https://theglobeandmail.com/business/article-us-consumer-confidence-index-low) — US consumer confidence hits lowest level in seven months as gas prices remain elevated - [CTV News](https://ctvnews.ca/world/article/us-consumer-confidence-falls-to-lowest-level-in-7-months-as-gas-prices-remain-elevated) — U.S. consumer confidence falls to lowest level in 7 months as gas prices remain elevated - [The Record](https://troyrecord.com/2026/08/25/us-consumer-confidence-august) — US consumer confidence falls to lowest level in 7 months as gas prices remain elevated - [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/americans-washington-iran-donald-trump-republicans-b3038933.html) — US consumer confidence falls to lowest level in 7 months as gas prices remain elevated - [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/world/united-states/us-consumer-confidence-falls-to-lowest-level-in-7-months-as-gas-prices-remain-elevated/article_72c30d94-a212-5f43-ba22-720e9c5d6b55.html) — US consumer confidence falls to lowest level in 7 months with gas stuck above $4 - [Associated Press News](https://apnews.com/article/consumer-confidence-inflation-economy-gas-prices-8fdcfa56f35b9eac2399fe1d167f8fbd) — US consumer confidence falls to lowest level in 7 months with gas stuck above $4 - [WKMG](https://clickorlando.com/business/2026/08/25/us-consumer-confidence-falls-to-lowest-level-in-7-months-as-gas-prices-remain-elevated) — US consumer confidence falls to lowest level in 7 months with gas stuck above $4 - [Washington Top News](https://wtop.com/news/2026/08/consumer-confidence-falls-in-august-as-ongoing-conflict-in-iran-keeps-gas-prices-steadily-above-4-a-gallon) — Consumer confidence falls in August as ongoing conflict in Iran keeps gas prices steadily above $4 a gallon - [goSkagit](https://goskagit.com/news/ap_business/consumer-confidence-falls-in-august-as-ongoing-conflict-in-iran-keeps-gas-prices-steadily-above/article_489c2c27-4f52-5559-85fb-d907031df59b.html) — Consumer confidence falls in August as ongoing conflict in Iran keeps gas prices steadily above $4 a gallon - [Seeking Alpha](https://seekingalpha.com/news/4636612-consumer-confidence-slips-in-august-as-expectations-index-sinks) — Consumer confidence slips in August as the expectations index sinks - [The Hamilton Spectator](https://thespec.com/business/us-consumer-confidence-falls-to-lowest-level-in-7-months-as-gas-prices-remain-elevated/article_13f16a9f-8f2e-5fc6-b720-5230230ad598.html) — US consumer confidence falls to lowest level in 7 months with gas stuck above $4 - [WellandTribune.ca](https://wellandtribune.ca/business/us-consumer-confidence-falls-to-lowest-level-in-7-months-as-gas-prices-remain-elevated/article_37effb3c-9eca-5271-b9bb-a53202c52657.html) — US consumer confidence falls to lowest level in 7 months with gas stuck above $4 - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/business/2026/08/25/us-consumer-confidence-falls-to-lowest-level-in-7-months-as-gas-prices-remain-elevated) — US consumer confidence falls to lowest level in 7 months with gas stuck above $4 ## Questions **What is the latest consumer confidence index reading?** The Conference Board's consumer confidence index fell to 89.4 in August. This is down from 90.2 in July and represents the lowest level recorded in seven months. **Why has consumer confidence fallen?** The decline in consumer confidence is linked to elevated gasoline prices, which have remained above $4 per gallon. This situation is attributed to the ongoing conflict in Iran. **How did Americans view their present situation and future outlook?** Respondents' views of their present situation improved in August. However, their outlook for the next six months soured, indicating less optimism about the near future. **What were the latest job market figures?** In July, U.S. employers cut 23,000 jobs. Additionally, revisions to previous months' data erased 103,000 jobs from earlier payroll reports. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/business/us-consumer-confidence-drops-to-seven-month-low. 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