Consumer Confidence Weakens Further as Bidenflation and War Crush Hope

A strong labor market and the retreat of covid-19 provided some buoyancy to consumer confidence in March, although inflation, gas prices, and the outbreak of war in Ukraine have dimmed expectations for the near-term future.

The Conference Board said its index of consumer confidence came in at 107.2 in March, in line with expectations. This was below the 110.5 index level reported last month for February and below January’s 111.1.

This would have made March the third monthly decline except for a downward revision for February to 105.7. That deeply depressing reading...