Consumer confidence slides to 12-year low

Consumer confidence fell to a 12-year low in September, according to The Conference Board. The index has been trending down for a couple years, but this latest decline was steep. One reason? Upper-middle class respondents are starting to feel the pressure, too. Also in this episode: The economic forces behind GDP growth might run out of steam soon, the low-hire low-fire labor market marches on, and high diesel prices keep some Gulf shrimpers on dry land.

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Read the stories in today’s episode:

• How long can the economy keep growing? (marketplace.org/story/2026/09/29/gdp-growth-mi…)
• The latest JOLTS survey shows more of the same low-hire, low-fire economy (marketplace.org/story/2026/09/29/low-hire-low-…)
• Consumer confidence falls to its lowest level in 12 years, survey shows (marketplace.org/story/2026/09/29/consumer-conf…)
• The price tag might be an endangered species (marketplace.org/story/2026/09/29/personalized-…)
• High diesel prices force some Gulf shrimpers to stay docked (marketplace.org/story/2026/09/29/high-diesel-p…)
• New career path, new baby, no problem (marketplace.org/story/2026/09/29/new-career-pa…)