US consumer confidence hits two-year high; recession fears linger

investing.com:

By Lucia Mutikani

WASHINGTON (Reuters) — U.S. consumer confidence increased to a two-year high in July amid a persistently tight labor market and receding inflation, bolstering the economy's prospects in the near term.

But the economy is not out of the woods, with the survey from the Conference Board on Tuesday offering mixed signals. Consumers remain fearful of a recession over the next year following hefty interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve.

While more consumers planned to buy a motor vehicle or house in the next six months, fewer anticipated purchasing major household appliances like refrigerators and washing machines.

Consumers also continued to report that they intended to spend less on discretionary services, including travel, recreation and gambling. They, however, expected to increase spending on healthcare, as well as streaming services from home.

That supports economists' views that consumer spending was flattening out after rising at its fastest pace in two years in the first quarter. Still, the survey joined data on inflation, the housing market and retail sales in raising optimism that the economy could skirt a recession this year.

«We seem to be in an unusual eddy in this expansion, with consumer confidence up but consumer spending clearly leveled off,» said Robert Frick, corporate economist with Navy Federal Credit Union in Vienna, Virginia. «Lower inflation is why confidence has surged, but Americans have become cautious, trimming spending and increasing savings.»

The Conference Board's consumer confidence index increased to 117 this month, the highest reading since July 2021, from 110.1 in June. Economists polled by Reuters had expected the index to increase to 111.8.

The improvement in