Dive Brief:

• U.S. consumer confidence fell unexpectedly in September after months of improvement, according to an index tracked by private economic research organization The Conference Board released Tuesday. 

• August’s numbers were revised up to the highest reading since the recession, from 92.4 to 93.4. These were followed by a September decrease to 86.0, the biggest drop since May this year, according to the report.

• Some experts speculated that the drop could be attributed in part to political turmoil, especially violence abroad, but The Conference Board pointed to uncertainty over job and wage security. 

Dive Insight:

As retailers head into the holiday season, mixed reports about the economy and consumer confidence make it difficult to develop an approach to bring shoppers in. While several economic indicators, like falling gas prices and higher home values, should boost consumer confidence, uncertainty about jobs and wages continues to undermine it. This prolongs the “retail funk” many companies are experiencing, and could mean retailers will have to rely on discounts and deals to make sales.