NY Fed Consumer Expectations Dec 2025: Job Market Anxiety Surges Among Americans

The job market looks stable from the outside, but American wallets are feeling the chill. According to Reuters, a recent report from the New York Fed shows that U.S. consumers were significantly more worried about the labor market in December 2025. This surge in anxiety suggests that the confidence which fueled post-pandemic growth might be hitting a wall.

NY Fed Consumer Expectations Dec 2025: The Numbers Behind the Concern

The Survey of Consumer Expectations highlights a shift in sentiment. Consumers' perceived probability of losing their jobs rose, while their expectations of finding a new position should they become unemployed reached a localized low. It's a double-edged sword for the economy: as job security fades, so does the willingness to spend.

Impact on Federal Reserve Policy and Market Volatility

This isn't just a mood swing—it's a data point that Jerome Powell and the Fed can't ignore. If consumer spending, which accounts for over two-thirds of the U.S. GDP, begins to crater due to labor fears, the central bank might have to pivot faster than expected. Investors are now recalibrating their portfolios as the risk of a 'hard landing' enters the conversation again.