NEW YORK, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- The Conference Board reported Tuesday its consumer confidence index fell to 76.8, much lower than economists had forecast at 81.2.
The consumer confidence index reached its lowest level since March, from a revised 81.7 in August, the Wall Street Journal reported.
"The lack of improvement in labor market conditions continues to dampen consumers' spirits," said Lynn Franco, director of the board's consumer research center.
The gauge of consumers' assessment of current economic conditions -- based on a representative sample of
5,000 U.S. households -- was gloomy with more of those surveyed saying "jobs were hard to get."
Expectations for the state of economic activity over the next six months also dropped from 94.9 in August to
88.4, also on job-market worries, the Journal said.
In another report, the National Association of Purchasing Managers in Chicago said the regional business barometer in September fell to 51.2 from 58.9 in August, while economists had forecast 56.5.
