Consumer confidence craters in June

A key measure of consumer confidence fell in June, reversing a three-month gain, as Americans remain nervous about the job market.

The Conference Board, a New York-based research group, said its Consumer Confidence Index dropped to 52.9 in June from 62.7 in May. It was the lowest level since March, when the index stood at 52.3.

Economists had expected the index to have fallen to 62 in June, according to consensus estimates from Briefing.com.

"Increasing uncertainty and apprehension about the future state of the economy and labor market, no doubt a result of the recent slowdown in job growth, are the primary reasons for the sharp reversal in confidence," Lynn Franco, director of the Conference Board Consumer Research Center, said in a statement. (more)