US consumer confidence plummets in September

(Reuters) – US consumer confidence plummeted in the last nine months of September, more than expected, as US economic prospects darkened over the US-China trade war a private sector report released Tuesday.

The Conference Board, an industry group, said its consumer attitude index fell to 125.1 from 134.2 in the previous month.

The 49 economists polled by Reuters expected a reading of 133.5. The September reading was the biggest deficit compared to Wall Street expectations since 2010.

"The escalation of trade and tariff tensions at the end of August seems to have hit consumers," said Lynn Franco, senior director of economic indicators at the Conference Board, in a statement.

The reading for the previous month was revised to 134.2 instead of 135.1.

The Expectations Index – based on the short-term consumer outlook in terms of income, business and labor market – decreased to 95.8 in September from 106.4 the month latest.