09/23/2026
US Consumer Confidence Hits a Seven-Month Low
US consumer confidence has reached a seven-month low—something I’m keeping a close eye on as it impacts both buyers and sellers here in Irvine and the surrounding communities. While people are feeling a bit better about their current situation (the present-conditions index jumped about 7 points to 121), there’s growing uncertainty about what’s ahead: the expectations gauge dropped nearly 6 points to 68, a level historically linked to recession risk.
Early in Q3, we saw 23,000 jobs cut and unemployment tick up to around 4%, mostly because more people are leaving the workforce rather than more jobs being created. Despite this, homebuying expectations only softened slightly as we moved through mid-Q3—and in fact, demand is still climbing. About 61% of folks now believe interest rates will rise further.
With federal policymakers keeping rates steady and markets signaling limited relief in the near future, it looks like borrowing costs will remain elevated through the end of the year. Navigating these market shifts is part of what I do for my clients every day, making sure they have the insight and support they need to make confident real estate decisions—no matter what the headlines bring.