The Conference Board's measure of consumer confidence fell to 93.1 in May from 93.8 in April, still above a reading of 92.0 expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:30 am ET.
The present situation reading fell to 121.2 from 124.4, while the expectations reading increased to 74.4 from 73.4.
The current assessments of both employment and business conditions deteriorated in April.
"Consumer confidence edged downward in May as the inflationary impacts of the war in the Middle East intensified," said Dana Peterson, Chief Economist at The Conference Board. "Consumer appraisals of current business conditions and the current labor market were moderately less positive compared to last month. This was somewhat offset by modest improvements in consumers' expectations for business conditions and the labor market six months from now."
The monthly consumer confidence index from the Conference Board measures consumer sentiment in the current month, with the headline index a combination of the present situation and expectations for the near future. The report also includes the current and future assessments for business and employment conditions.
An increase in the reading suggests consumers are more confident, a positive for stocks if that confidence translates into spending. Increased demand is usually inflationary, a negative for bonds.