US consumer confidence index falls to five-month low in September

China

US consumer confidence index falls to five-month low in September

2025-10-01 12:24 Last Updated At：16:57

The U.S. consumer confidence index dropped by 3.6 points in September, falling to 94.2 from 97.8 in August, according to the latest survey results published by the Conference Board, a U.S. non-profit research organization, on Tuesday.

The data, which is based on a benchmark of 100 points set in 1985, marked the lowest level registered since April this year, said the survey.

Meanwhile, the Present Situation Index, which is based on consumers' assessment of current business and labor market conditions, fell 7 points to 125.4. 　　 The Expectation Index, based on consumers' short-term outlook for income, business, and labor market conditions declined by 1.3 to 73.4, which is "below the threshold of 80 that typically signals a recession ahead since February 2025," said the report.

In particular, the survey noted that consumers' views of their current financial situation recorded the largest one-month drop since the institution began to collect the data starting July 2022.

China's Ningbo-Zhoushan Port leads global cargo throughput for 17 years

The Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in China's eastern province of Zhejiang saw its cargo throughput exceeding 1.4 billion tonnes in 2025, ranking first globally for the 17th consecutive year, according to the port operator.

The port's container throughput surpassed 43 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) last year, maintaining third place worldwide.

Its port connectivity index remains the second highest in the world, with more than 309 container routes, connecting over 700 ports in more than 200 countries and regions, and nearly 300 vessel calls per day.

The port has launched more than 110 sea-rail intermodal transportation routes, linking 69 prefecture-level regions across 16 provinces and equivalent administrative units nationwide. The routes cover 40 inland dry ports. The Ningbo-Zhoushan Port handled over two million TEUs in 2025 as for its sea-rail intermodal transportation services.