US consumer confidence hits its lowest since 2014. What are households worried about?

The Conference Board’s consumer-confidence index fell 6.7 points to 81.9 in September, its lowest reading since April 2014. The present-situation and expectations measures both declined. Survey responses pointed to prices, fuel costs and concerns about employment and business conditions.

Does a low confidence reading mean people have stopped spending?

No. It measures how surveyed consumers describe their feelings and expectations; it is not a receipt total. Spending can remain supported by income, savings or credit even when people feel uneasy. Economists compare confidence with actual retail sales and employment data to see whether sentiment is changing behaviour.

The index is a warning about mood and expectations, not a standalone forecast of a recession.