The consumer confidence index fell to 95.2 in April from a revised 101.4 last month, The Conference Board reported Tuesday.
The March index was originally reported as 101.3.
Economists polled by Thomson Reuters predicted a 102.5 reading for the index.
The present situation index dropped to 106.8 from a revised 109.5, first reported as 109.1, while the expectations index slid to 87.5 from an unrevised 96.0.
"Consumer confidence, which had rebounded in March, gave back all of the gain and more in April," said Lynn Franco, director of The Conference Board's Consumer Research Center. "This month's retreat was prompted by a softening in current conditions, likely sparked by the recent lackluster performance of the labor market, and apprehension about the short-term outlook. The Present Situation Index declined for the third consecutive month. Coupled with waning expectations, there is little to suggest that economic momentum will pick up in the months ahead."
Business conditions were called "good" by 26.5% of respondents in April, down from 26.7% in March. Those saying conditions are "bad" fell to 18.2% from 19.2%.
The percentage of consumers expecting a pickup in business conditions in the next half year declined to 16.0% from 16.8%, while 9.4% said they expect conditions to worsen, up from 8.1% in the prior month.
On the jobs front, those who believe jobs are "plentiful" slipped to 19.1% in April from 21.0% in March, while the number saying jobs are "hard to get" rose to 26.4% from 25.5%. The respondents who see fewer jobs becoming available in a half year, increased to 16.3% from 13.6%. Those expecting more jobs to become available fell to 13.8% from 15.3%, The Conference Board reported.
The consumer confidence survey is based on a probability design random sample by the Nielsen Company.
