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31 MARCH 2026
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TranscriptConsumer confidence has ticked up slightly but remains low in the face of tariffs, spiking prices and war.
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® edged up in March to 91.8 (1985=100), from 91.0 in February. The Present Situation Index—based on consumers’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions—increased by 4.6 points to 123.3. The Expectations Index—based on consumers’ short-term outlook for income, business, and labor market conditions—declined by 1.7 points to 70.9.
While not obvious in the headline or its component indexes, the weight of rising costs due to tariff passthrough and spiking oil prices was evident among other measures in the survey like inflation expectations.
Join Yelena Shulyatyeva and guest Allen Li, Associate Economist, The Conference Board, to find out what's behind consumers’ current and future expectations.
For more from The Conference Board:
C-Suite Perspectives is a series hosted by our President & CEO, Steve Odland. This weekly conversation takes an objective, data-driven look at a range of business topics aimed at executives. Listeners will come away with what The Conference Board does best: Trusted Insights for What’s Ahead®.
C-Suite Perspectives provides unique insights for C-Suite executives on timely topics that matter most to businesses as selected by The Conference Board. If you would like to suggest a guest for the podcast series, please email csuite.perspectives@conference-board.org. Note: As a non-profit organization under 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code, The Conference Board cannot promote or offer marketing opportunities to for-profit entities.
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Consumer confidence has ticked up slightly but remains low in the face of tariffs, spiking prices and war.
