Consumer Confidence Drops in March as Spending Dips Overall, and for Tech, Says CEA

Consumer confidence toward the overall economy and technology spending both fell in March, said CEA Tuesday. The CEA Index of Consumer Expectations (ICE), which measures consumer expectations about the U.S. economy as a whole, slipped 2.8 points from February to 178.4, and the Index of Consumer Technology Expectations (ICTE) dropped 5.4 points, said CEA. “While consumer confidence is down slightly from last month, U.S. economic growth continues to sustain above-trend growth,” said Shawn DuBravac, CEA chief economist. This month’s ICE remains higher year over year for the month of March since the CEA Index began tracking in 2007, said the association in a news release.