The American consumer is feeling the squeeze—and it’s not just the rising price of eggs (up over 15% last month, thanks to that pesky avian flu). The Conference Board dropped a bombshell today: consumer confidence plummeted to its lowest since August 2021, clocking in at 98.3. That’s a steep fall for the third month running, and economists are pointing fingers at inflation fears and President Trump’s looming tariff threats. Shoppers in New York told us they’re bracing for a trade war that could jack up prices even more. “I’m already skipping the organic aisle,” one said. With the Fed hinting at rate hikes to cool things down, is this the economic storm we’ve been dreading? Stay tuned—your wallet might not like what’s next.