August Results.

The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index, which had risen in July, dipped moderately in August. The Index now stands at 141.1 (1985=100), down from 143.0. The Present Situation Index declined from 186.8 to 183.4. The Expectations Index also fell, from 113.7 to 113.0.

The Consumer Confidence Survey is based on a representative sample of 5,000 U.S. households. The monthly survey is conducted for The Conference Board by NFO Research, Inc., an NFO Worldwide Company and member of The Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE: IPG).

In August. consumers' assessment of ongoing conditions was mixed. The percentage of respondents that felt business conditions were "good" rose to 46.3 percent from 45.4 percent. Those rating conditions as "bad" climbed to 8.3 percent from 7.3 percent. Consumers claiming jobs were "hard to get" increased to 10.6 percent from 9.6 percent in July.

Consumers' short-term outlook in August was also mixed. The percentage of respondents expecting an improvement in business conditions over the next six months improved slightly to 17.4 percent from 17.2 percent in the previous survey. Those expecting conditions to worsen fell to 5.5 percent from 6.1 percent. The job outlook, however, was less upbeat than in the previous survey. The proportion of consumers expecting more jobs to become available in the coming months declined to 16.8 percent from 17.6 percent in July. Those expecting fewer jobs to become available rose to 11.2 percent from 10.2 percent. Income prospects were more optimistic than in the prior survey. Currently, 27.9 percent of respondents anticipate an increase in their income, up from 26.4 percent in July.

Despite the decline in confidence, consumers' attitudes about future economic growth prospects remain upbeat. But recent fluctuations may indicate that confidence levels have reached a plateau, and a cooling in spending habits may well be on the horizon.