US consumer confidence eases in August as gas prices exceed $4 a gallon

The Conference Board’s August consumer confidence index slipped to 89.4 from 90.2 as gas prices stay above $4 per gallon. Sentiment improved regarding the current labor market (27% say plentiful vs 24.4% in July) but weakened on the six‑month outlook (14.6% expect more jobs, down from 16.4%). July payrolls fell 23,000 and the unemployment rate held at 4.1% as a shrinking labor force kept the jobless rate down. Inflation, via the Fed’s preferred PCE index, remained elevated at 3.7% y/y in June, signaling continued price pressures alongside geopolitical concerns.