{
  "id": 10750199,
  "title": "US consumer confidence sinks to lowest level since 2014",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/us-consumer-confidence-sinks-to-lowest-level-since-2014",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-29T18:22:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/world/20260930/us-consumer-confidence-sinks-to-lowest-level-since-2014"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "U.S. consumer confidence plummeted in September to a level not seen since 2014, according to a key indicator released on Tuesday. The Conference Board's consumer confidence index dropped by 6.7 points to 81.9, marking its lowest point since April 2014. The surge in fuel costs, driven by the recent escalation in the Iran war, has been a major contributing factor. High living expenses and economic uncertainty have left American households pessimistic about the economic outlook, particularly as the country heads into crucial midterm elections in November. Democrats are aiming to gain control of Congress from President Donald Trump's Republican Party. Dana Peterson, chief economist at the Conference Board, noted that consumers' write-in responses highlighting the impact of rising prices, goods and services costs, and oil and gas prices were alarmingly high, reflecting the recent surge in fuel prices.",
  "summary": "WASHINGTON — U.S. consumer confidence plunged sharply in September to a level not seen since 2014, according to a key benchmark published on Tuesday, with U.S. households battered by a high cost of living and economic uncertainty from the Iran war. The Conference Board's consumer confidence index fell by 6.7 points to 81.9 this month, its lowest level since April 2014. The high cost of living in…",
  "key_points": [
    "U.S. consumer confidence fell to 81.9 in September, lowest since 2014",
    "Fuel costs surge due to Iran war escalation, major contributing factor",
    "High living expenses, economic uncertainty leave households pessimistic"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "US consumer confidence sinks to lowest level since 2014",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/us-consumer-confidence-sinks-to-lowest-level-since-2014-10754105",
        "published": "2026-09-29T18:47:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hill",
        "title": "Consumer confidence drops to lowest level in more than a decade",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/consumer-confidence-drops-to-lowest-level-in-more-than-a-decade",
        "published": "2026-09-29T20:08:27.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}