The US Conference Board's measure of consumer confidence dipped to 91.3 in December from 92.5 in November, with deterioration in the current conditions measure, while respondents were more optimistic on the future.
The percentage of consumers saying jobs were hard to get climbed to 32.6% in December, reversing a decline to 29.6% the month before, suggesting people are not yet convinced the 'jobless recovery' has turned for the better.
A separate report showed that business activity in the US Midwest expanded in December for the eighth straight month, but at a slower-than-expected pace. The National Association of Purchasing Management-Chicago's business barometer fell to 59.2 in December from a strong 64.1 in November.
Sales of existing US homes fell more than expected in November, the National Association of Realtors said. Sales of previously owned homes fell 4.6%, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.06 million units.
