U.S. Consumer Confidence Slumped in March, Missing Forecasts

U.S. consumer confidence declined for the fourth time in five months on dimmer assessments of present conditions, suggesting that weak first-quarter growth and slower job gains in February are weighing on attitudes and potentially spending.

The Conference Board’s index fell to 124.1 from 131.4, the New York-based group said in a report Tuesday. That missed all economist estimates in a Bloomberg survey calling for a rise to 132.5. The gauge of views on the present situation fell to the lowest level in almost a year, while the expectations index also weakened.