Consumer Confidence Index Falls For Third Straight Month

Down to 70.4 in November

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — The government shutdown, it turns out, is not the only thing that's undermined the confidence of consumers as retailers enter the most critical part of their year.

The consumer-confidence index fell for the third straight month, dipping to 70.4 in November from 71.2, the nonprofit Conference Board said Tuesday. It's also the lowest level since April.

Economists polled by MarketWatch had expected the index to rise to 72.4, largely because of the end of the budget battle that gripped Washington though the month of October.