Overview

• The Conference Board’s index dropped 5.4 points from May, erasing nearly half of the previous month’s gains.
• Nearly 70% of surveyed consumers expect a recession within the next year, fueling spending caution.
• One-year inflation expectations eased to 6% but tariff worries remained the most cited concern among respondents.
• The share of consumers viewing jobs as plentiful fell to 29.2%, the lowest reading since March 2021.
• Retail sales weakened in May, continuing a pullback as higher prices and policy uncertainty weighed on household spending.