May 2021 Conference Board Consumer Confidence Little Changed The latest Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index's headline number was little changed in May. The Index now stands at 117.2 (1985=100), down marginally from 117.5 in April. A quote from the Conference Board: " ... consumers' short-term optimism retreated, prompted by expectations of decelerating growth and softening labor market conditions in the months ahead". Analyst Opinion of Conference Board Consumer Confidence Consumer confidence had been steady for the previous two years - but the coronavirus killed the upswing. Consumer confidence during the pandemic was as low as seen in 2014 - but now has improved to nearly pre-pandemic levels.