MW: U.S. consumer confidence weaker than 57.0 expected
By Rex Nutting
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - The U.S. consumer confidence index fell in September as Americans grew more concerned about the economy, their job prospects and their incomes, the Conference Board reported Tuesday. The consumer confidence index fell to 53.1 in September from 54.5 in August, reversing part of August's nearly 7-point gain. "Consumers remain quite apprehensive about the short-term outlook and their incomes," said Lynn Franco, head of the consumer research group at the private research organization. "With the holiday season quickly approaching, this is not very encouraging news." Economists surveyed by MarketWatch were expecting the index to rise to 57.
