(Dec 23): US consumer confidence unexpectedly sank in December for the first time in three months on concerns about the outlook for the economy amid uncertainty around the Trump administration’s policies.

The Conference Board’s gauge of confidence decreased to 104.7, led by consumers over 35-years-old, data released Monday showed. The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for a reading of 113.2.

In write-in responses to the survey, consumers increasingly cited politics and tariffs. A special question showed that 46% of respondents expected tariffs to raise the cost of living, while 21% expected tariffs to create more US jobs.

“The recent rebound in consumer confidence was not sustained in December as the index dropped back to the middle of the range that has prevailed over the past two years,” Dana Peterson, chief economist at the Conference Board, said in a statement.

Consumers were less optimistic about the outlook for business conditions and their own income prospects. A measure of expectations for the next six months and a gauge of present conditions both dropped.

Still, the share of consumers who said jobs were currently plentiful rose to 37% from the previous month. Meanwhile the percentage who said jobs were hard to get dropped to 14.8%.

The difference between the two — a metric closely followed by economists to gauge the job market — widened for the third month in a row.

Uploaded by Magessan Varatharaja