Consumer confidence hits 2011 low, 74% now living paycheck to paycheck

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Americans’ confidence in the economy slumped for the fifth straight month to the lowest level since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic as anxiety over the impact of tariffs takes a heavy toll.

The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index fell 7.9 points in April to 86, its lowest reading since May 2020. Nearly one-third of consumers expect hiring to slow in the coming months, nearly matching the level reached in April 2009, when the economy was mired in the Great Recession.

The figures reflect a rapidly souring mood among Americans, most of whom expect prices to rise because of the widespread tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. About half of Americans are also worried about the potential for a recession, according to a survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center.

https://apnews.com/article/economy-confidence-tariffs-f3cb9058971c008127f8dc22c8933296

  • The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index fell to 86 on the month, down 7.9 points from its prior reading and below the Dow Jones estimate for 87.7.
  • The board’s expectations index, which measures how respondents look at the next six months, tumbled to 54.4, a decline of 12.5 points and the lowest reading since October 2011.
  • Also, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that employment postings in March fell to their lowest level since September 2024.

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/29/consumer-outlook-hits-lowest-since-2011-as-tariff-fears-mount-conference-board-survey-shows.html

74% Of Employees Surveyed Admit Currently Living Paycheck To Paycheck

In a nutshell

  • 73% of Gen Z and 70% of millennials are looking to change jobs, compared to only 33% of baby boomers, highlighting a significant generational divide in workplace satisfaction. Nearly 3 in 4 workers are living paycheck to paycheck
  • Burnout affects 68% of Gen Z workers but only 30% of boomers, with monotonous work and stagnant pay cited as top factors contributing to workplace exhaustion.
  • Most workers want better pay (58%), flexible work arrangements (48%), and policies limiting after-hours communication (43%) to improve their job satisfaction and reduce burnout

https://studyfinds.org/young-workers-ready-to-quit-burnout-pay-concerns-driving-exodus/