Consumer confidence in the U.S. took a significant dip in February, as pessimism about the future surged, according to data from the Conference Board. The consumer sentiment index fell by 7 points to reach 98.3, marking the largest monthly decline since August 2021. This marks the third consecutive month of declining confidence, bringing the index to its lowest level since 2022. While the index showed slight improvement in current business conditions, consumers became increasingly pessimistic about the future. Specifically, optimism regarding future income and employment prospects decreased significantly. The expectations index plummeted to 72.9, falling below the recession-warning threshold of 80 for the first time since June 2024.