The consumer confidence index declined to 86.0 in September from a revised 93.4 last month, The Conference Board reported Tuesday.
The August index was originally reported as 92.4.
The present situation index fell to 89.4 from a revised 93.9, first reported as 94.6, while the expectations index slid to 83.7 from a revised 93.1, first reported as 90.9.
Economists polled by Thomson Reuters predicted a 92.5 reading for the index.
"Consumer confidence retreated in September after four consecutive months of improvement," said Lynn Franco, director of The Conference Board's Consumer Research Center. "A less positive assessment of the current job market, most likely due to the recent softening in growth, was the sole reason for the decline in consumers' assessment of present-day conditions. Looking ahead, consumers were less confident about the short-term outlook for the economy and labor market, and somewhat mixed regarding their future earnings potential. All told, consumers expect economic growth to ease in the months ahead."
Business conditions were called "good" by 23.4% of respondents in September, down from 23.5% in August. Those saying conditions are "bad" held at 21.3%.
The percentage of consumers expecting a pickup in business conditions in the next half year dropped to 18.6% from 20.8%, while 12.0% said they expect conditions to worsen, up from 9.9% in the prior month.
On the jobs front, those who believe jobs are "plentiful" slumped to 15.1% in September from 17.6% in August, while the number saying jobs are "hard to get" crept to 30.1% from 30.0%. The respondents who see fewer jobs becoming available in a half year, increased to 17.8% from 15.2%. Those expecting more jobs to become available slid to 15.2% from 17.8%, The Conference Board reported.
The consumer confidence survey is based on a probability design random sample by the Nielsen Company.
