Consumer Confidence Plunges: Confidence among consumers sank...

Consumer Confidence Plunges: Confidence among consumers sank this month to its weakest level since a recession eight years ago, a research group said. And more Americans expect the economy to get worse, the Conference Board said. The confidence index plunged 24 points in October, the biggest one-month drop since the index was launched more than 20 years ago. The October reading was 61.3, a level not seen since the 16-month recession of 1981-82. The index, based on a 1985 base of 100, was at 101.7 in July, before Iraq invaded Kuwait.