C-Suite Perspectives The State of the Economy for February 2026
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Feb 24, 2026 Malala Lin, Economic Research Associate at The Conference Board, shares crisp analysis of the US Consumer Confidence Index. She explains why expectations rose even as present conditions softened. Short takes cover business, labor and income outlooks, demographic splits in sentiment, buying plans for goods and homes, and consumer worries like inflation, stocks, and interest rates.
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Expectations Drove February Confidence Uptick
- Consumer confidence rose slightly in February driven by improved expectations while assessments of present conditions worsened.
- Expectations for business, labor, and incomes became less negative, even as current business conditions continued to decline.
Gen Z Stands Out As Most Optimistic Group
- Younger consumers (under 35 / Gen Z) showed rising confidence while older groups trended downward on six-month averages.
- Gen Z remained the most optimistic cohort, reversing broader multi-month declines among older age groups.
High Inflation Expectations Keep Price Concerns Top Of Mind
- Consumers continue to cite prices, inflation, and rising costs as top concerns and hold elevated 12-month inflation expectations at 5.5%.
- Mentions of trade, politics, and immigration picked up in write-ins, adding to uncertainty.