Fact Check Team: Consumer confidence is falling—but does that mean the economy is worse?

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Who published it, and when

How it spread - 10 original reports, 21 reprints

1. Thu, 6 August 2026

   1 report
   • news4sanantonio.com01:53first to report
     Fact Check Team: Consumer confidence is falling—but does that mean the economy is worse?

     The Conference Board reported that its Consumer Confidence Index declined for a third straight month in July, reflecting growing concern about the U.S. economy.

     20 reprints

     • wgme.com6 Aug, 01:53their copy
     • wjla.com6 Aug, 01:53their copy
     • wchstv.com6 Aug, 01:53their copy
     • wlos.com6 Aug, 01:53their copy
     • foxreno.com6 Aug, 01:53their copy
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     • cbs6albany.com6 Aug, 01:53their copy
     • abcnews4.com6 Aug, 01:53their copy
     • foxrochester.com6 Aug, 01:53their copy
     • nbcmontana.com6 Aug, 01:53their copy
     • cbs4local.com6 Aug, 01:53their copy
     • bakersfieldnow.com6 Aug, 01:53their copy
     • kfdm.com6 Aug, 01:53their copy
     • wcti12.com6 Aug, 01:53their copy
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     • wsbt.com6 Aug, 01:53their copy
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     • local21news.com6 Aug, 01:53their copy
     • kcby.com6 Aug, 01:53their copy
     • midmichigannow.com6 Aug, 01:53their copy
2. Fri, 14 August 2026

   3 reports
   • iheart.com15:06
     Consumer Sentiment Falls For First Time In 3 Months

     Consumer sentiment in the U.S. has declined for the first time in three months, dropping to 51 in August. Concerns over rising prices and economic conditions have contributed to this decrease. Inflation expectations have risen, with consumers anticipating a 4.3% increase in prices over the nex...

   • iheart.com15:06
     Consumer Sentiment Falls For First Time In 3 Months

     Consumer sentiment in the U.S. has declined for the first time in three months, dropping to 51 in August. Concerns over rising prices and economic conditions have contributed to this decrease. Inflation expectations have risen, with consumers anticipating a 4.3% increase in prices over the nex...

   • Axios15:58
     Consumer sentiment dips, especially among Republicans

     Data: University of Michigan ; Note: August 2026 number is preliminary; Chart: Neil Irwin/Axios Public opinion about the economy appears to be souring further this month, per the preliminary release of the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index. By the numbers: Overall sentiment fell 8% in the early days of August, after two consecutive months of improvement. The index fell to 51, from 55.2 in July. That remains above the recent lows reached in the spring, when gasoline prices were...

3. Mon, 17 August 2026

   1 report
   • aol.co.uk10:13
     UK job security weakens to lowest since 2023 as consumer confidence dips

     Consumer confidence took a step back in August as job security worsened to its weakest level for more than three years, according to new figures. The closely watched S&P Global UK consumer sentiment index slipped to 42.9 for the month, compared with a previous four-month high of 43.4 in July. Any reading below 50 indicates that sentiment remains broadly negative. Maryam Baluch, Economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said: “The recent better growth seen in the economy is failing to feed...

4. Tue, 25 August 2026

   3 reports
   • theturtleislandnews.com14:34
     US consumer confidence falls to lowest level in 7 months with gas stuck above $4

     By Matt Ott WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans’ confidence in the economy declined again this month as the ongoing conflict in Iran has steadily pushed gasoline prices above $4 per gallon in the U.S. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index dipped to 89.4 in August from 90.2 in July. That’s the lowest level in seven months but essentially in the same lukewarm range its been in since the beginning of the year. In late 2024 and early 2025 the readings were consistently above...

   • The Guardian World15:56
     US consumer confidence falls in August as gas prices remain above $4 per gallon

     Confidence index drops to 89.4 in August from 90.2 in July amid frustration after five years of elevated inflation Americans’ confidence in the economy declined again this month as the ongoing conflict in Iran continued to push US gasoline prices above $4 per gallon. The Conference Board said on Tuesday that its consumer confidence index dipped to 89.4 in August from 90.2 in July. That was the lowest level in seven months but was essentially within the same lukewarm range it has been in since...

   • PBS NewsHour17:26
     With gas stuck above $4, U.S. consumer confidence falls to lowest level in 7 months

     The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index dipped to 89.4 in August from 90.2 in July.

     1 reprint

     • thereporteronline.com25 Aug, 14:14their copy
5. Wed, 26 August 2026

   1 report
   • china.org.cn03:15
     US consumer confidence dips in August as future expectations sour

     ​U.S. consumer confidence edged lower in August as a deteriorating short-term outlook overshadowed consumers' assessments of current economic and labor conditions, industry data showed on Tuesday.

6. Sat, 29 August 2026

   1 report
   • milwaukeesun.com09:00
     U.S. consumer sentiment sinks 11 pct year-on-year

     WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- U.S. consumer sentiment dropped about 11 percent in August from a year earlier, according to data released Friday by the University...