According to the Associated Press, consumer confidence fell unexpectedly in December, hitting a more than 40-year low as the job market worsened. Home prices in 10 major U.S. cities also dropped in October by the sharpest amount in 21 years.
The Consumer Confidence Index measured by the Conference Board, a private research group, fell to 38 in December from a revised 44.7 in November. That is its lowest point since the group began compiling the index in 1967, and below the previous low of 38.8 in October.