Consumer confidence slides as Americans grow wary of high costs and sluggish job gains

WASHINGTON — U.S. consumers were much less confident in the economy in November in the aftermath of the government shutdown , weak hiring and stubborn inflation.

The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index dropped to 88.7 in November from an upwardly revised October reading of 95.5, the lowest reading since April, when President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs that caused the stock market to plunge.