Consumer Confidence Tumbles

The Board's index, based on a survey of 5,000 U.S. households, fell to 50.4 in June, from 58.1 in May. This was the fifth lowest reading ever, noted Lynn Franco, director of the Conference Board Consumer Research Center.

She said the increasingly negative views suggest "the economy remains stuck in low gear."

And matters aren't looking any better to consumers in the months ahead. The index measuring consumer expectations fell to a record low of 41.0, from 47.3 in May.