Consumer confidence ticks up in February as labor market outlook improves

Consumer confidence edged higher in February as Americans expressed a more optimistic view of the labor market and other facets of the economy, a new survey shows. In:

Consumer confidence edged higher in February as Americans expressed a more optimistic view of the labor market and other facets of the economy, a new survey shows.

The Conference Board, a nonprofit research group, said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index increased by 2.2 points in February, rising to 91.2. 

That's an improvement over January, when confidence fell sharply amid concerns over household income and job prospects. Still, February's reading remains below the peak reached in November 2024, the Conference Board said.

A higher share of survey respondents now say jobs are "plentiful" versus "hard to get," a sign that consumers may be adopting a more favorable outlook of the labor market.

The improved February reading comes after the Bureau of Labor Statistics data showed robust hiring in January. Employers added 130,000 jobs last month, according to the latest jobs report. Still, the economy gained just 181,000 jobs in 2025, a fraction of the more than 2 million added in 2024.