US Consumer Confidence Weakened Slightly In October
US consumer confidence weakened slightly in October as the new wave of coronavirus infections began to spread across the country.The research board of the Conference Board said on Tuesday that the consumer mood index, which it compiles, fell to 100.9 points this month from the September level of 101.8 points.Consumer spending accounts for 70 percent of economic activity in the United States, so the decline in confidence is attracting a lot of attention from economists, especially as the country is heading for an important shopping season.The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index fell to 85.7 points in April as a lockdown was in place in large parts of the United States to control the spread of coronavirus.For several months before the outbreak of the pandemic, the index consistently rose well above 100 points.In February, before the severity of COVID-19 became clear, the US consumer confidence index was 132.6 points.