The Financial Post reports in its Wednesday, April 30, edition that U.S. consumer confidence fell in April to its lowest level in almost five years, driven by worries about the economy and labour market due to tariffs. A Bloomberg dispatch to the Post reports that the Conference Board's index dropped nearly eight points to 86, marking the longest decline since 2008. Consumer expectations for the next six months hit their lowest since 2011, and concerns about future job availability rose to a 16-year high. Growing pessimism suggests that higher tariffs could hurt the economy and increase prices. Conference Board economist Stephanie Guichard says, "The three expectation components -- business conditions, employment prospects and future income -- all deteriorated sharply, reflecting pervasive pessimism about the future." Corporate executives have signalled concerns that the recent plunge in confidence will filter through into weaker demand, while warning that consumers can expect to see higher prices because of tariffs. The measure of consumer inflation expectations rose to the highest since November, 2022, according to the Conference Board's report. The share expecting higher interest rates in the year ahead also rose.