Consumer confidence fell to 41.3 in October from 42.7 in September, its lowest level since July 2023, according to the consumer sentiment index compiled by S&P Global. Households have become increasingly downbeat ahead of next week's Budget, as cost-of-living pressures from events in the Middle East and fears of interest rate hikes weigh on them. Maryam Baluch, economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said any 'Burnham bounce' has proved short-lived, with households increasingly convinced that borrowing costs will rise soon as the Bank of England tries to tame inflation. For hopes of stronger growth to be more than wishful thinking, households need to feel more optimistic about their finances and job security.
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Related tickers and likely impact
SPY
▼ Likely negativeSPDR S&P 500 ETF
Relevance: medium
| Market | US stocks |
|---|---|
| Sector | ETF |
| Close on 10/19/2026 | 766.48 |
| Change that session | +0.42% |
QQQ
▼ Likely negativeInvesco QQQ Trust
Relevance: low
| Market | US stocks |
|---|---|
| Sector | ETF |
| Close on 10/19/2026 | 718.36 |
| Change that session | +1.21% |
DXY
• NeutralRelevance: low
| Market | Currencies |
|---|---|
| Close on 10/19/2026 | 101.98 |
| Change that session | +0.20% |
Impact is scored by AI from the headline and may be wrong. It is not investment advice.
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