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U.S. consumer confidence unexpectedly fell for a fourth straight month as sentiment about current labor-market conditions eased, posing a challenge to retailers heading into the all-important holiday-shopping season.

WASHINGTON — U.S. consumer confidence has fallen for a third consecutive month as optimism about job prospects and business conditions down the road grow weaker.

U.S. consumer comfort improved slightly last week as more upbeat assessments of the economy and buying climate were tempered by the weakest reading on personal finances in almost two months.

U.S. consumer confidence posted the biggest drop since the start of the year as Americans’ expectations for the economy and the job market deteriorated, posing a risk to the household spending that is underpinning growth.

U.S. consumer comfort bounced back to a five-week high as assessments of personal finances reached the second-highest level since 2000, offering hope American households can continue to fuel the economic expansion.

U.S. consumer sentiment fell the most in six years, slumping to the lowest level of Donald Trump’s presidency as Americans expressed concern about how his tariffs will affect the economy.

U.S. consumer confidence declined in August by less than forecast as Americans’ assessment of current conditions climbed to the highest level in almost 19 years, helped by a job market that remains robust.

Sentiment among U.S. consumers fell the most in almost 10 months, led by dimmer views of the economy as market turmoil returned on another flareup in the U.S.-China trade war.

A weekly measure of Americans’ sentiment reached the second-highest level since 2000, adding to indications consumers remain generally upbeat even as respondents said in a monthly poll that they were somewhat less upbeat about their expectations for the economy.

Consumer confidence declined for the fourth time in five months on dimmer assessments of present conditions, suggesting that weak first-quarter growth and slower job gains in February are weighing on attitudes and potentially spending.