Which monthly index from the Conference Board measures U.S. consumers' confidence in the economy?

The monthly index from The Conference Board that measures U.S. consumers’ confidence in the economy is the Consumer Confidence Index, or CCI.

The CCI summarizes households’ views of present economic conditions and their expectations for the near future. The Conference Board’s survey asks about subjects including business conditions, employment, income prospects, and planned purchases. Because consumer spending is a major part of economic activity, economists watch the index as a signal of possible changes in household demand.

The index is built from two broad components: the Present Situation Index and the Expectations Index. A reading is expressed relative to a historical benchmark, commonly reported with 1985 equal to 100. The CCI is therefore a survey-based sentiment measure, not a direct count of retail purchases or household income.

A common mix-up is the University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Index. Both gauge consumer attitudes, but they are separate surveys with different questions, samples, methodologies, and publication schedules.