American consumers are sending mixed signals about the economy’s direction, with confidence levels stuck in a holding pattern that reflects growing unease about job prospects even as households maintain optimism about the future. The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index edged down to 97.4 in August from a revised 98.7 in July, according to new analysis from Wells Fargo Economics. While the reading keeps confidence well above recession-warning levels, it also falls far short of the robust consumer sentiment that typically drives strong economic growth. The lukewarm confidence reading places consumers “roughly at the midpoint” between the 112.8 peak reached in November when economic spirits were high and the 85.7 trough following policy announcements in April. More tellingly, current

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