American consumer confidence dropped to its lowest point in seven months in August, as sustained conflict with Iran kept gasoline prices above $4 per gallon across the United States. The Conference Board's consumer confidence index (a widely tracked measure of how optimistic households feel about the economy) fell to 89.4, down from 90.2 in July, with survey respondents growing more pessimistic about short-term job prospects and the broader economic outlook. The decline adds political pressure on President Donald Trump and Republicans ahead of midterm elections now less than 70 days away, with inflation having risen since Trump's inauguration in January 2025 despite his repeated efforts to attribute high prices to his predecessor, Joe Biden.