US consumer confidence falls for 3rd time in 4 months

By MATT OTT
AP Business Writer

Consumer confidence dipped again in April as anxiety over a slowing economy and possible recession weighed on American households. The Conference Board reported Tuesday that its consumer confidence index fell to 101.3 in April from 104 in March. Optimism about current conditions ticked up again, although consumers are less positive about the short-term future. The index remains below 2022’s average level of 104.5. The business research group’s present situation index — which measures consumers’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions — inched up to 151.1 from 148.9 last month.