U.S. consumer confidence sees biggest fall in 7 months: Inflation, shutdowns, and employment anxieties all fermenting.

[Block Rhythm] American consumers have recently become less optimistic. The data for November shows that the confidence index has dropped to 88.7, falling by 6.8 points—this is the largest decline in seven months. What about economists' previous predictions? All have fallen short.

The chief economist of the Conference Board, Dana Peterson, summarized consumer feedback and found that the most discussed topics remain the same three: prices and inflation, tariff trade, and political situation. Recently, a new topic has emerged - the possibility of a federal government shutdown. Although the frequency of mentions of the labor market has decreased, it remains one of the hot sources of anxiety.

The overall atmosphere is more pessimistic than in October. Consumer sentiment has cooled, often serving as a prelude to market fluctuations. When concerns about the economic outlook continue to fester, the demand for safe-haven assets typically rises. This subtle shift in macro sentiment may influence the direction of various assets.