The Conference Board's Expectations Index dropped to a five-month low in December, nearing a threshold that typically signals a recession ahead.

A post-election pop in consumer confidence fizzled at the end of the year owing to worries about the U.S. stock market and a potentially higher cost of living from new tariffs. The index of consumer confidence dropped 8.

American consumers are not feeling the holiday cheer: concerns about what's ahead for the economy shot up as tariffs loom, according to a barometer of consumer confidence released on Monday. Why it matters: The post-election bump in consumer confidence in November now looks like a blip,