Consumer confidence falls to nine-month low
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - Consumer confidence fell to a nine-month low in August as Americans grew more worried about business conditions and the chances of finding a job, according to a survey. The Conference Board on Tuesday said its confidence index dropped to 60.6 from 65.4, marking the lowest level since last November. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch had forecast the index to rise slightly to 66.0. Lynn Franco, director of economic indicators, said "consumers were more apprehensive about business and employment prospects." The board's future expectations sub-index sank to 70.7 last month from 78.4, while the present-conditions index was basically unchanged at 45.8. While consumers are less hopeful about the future, however, they said they've seen little deterioration in the economy, either