Consumer confidence fell in October, according to The Conference Board's consumer confidence index released today. The index fell to a level of 47.7 in October (1985=100) from 53.4 in September. The index had also fallen in September.

"Consumers' assessment of present-day conditions has grown less favorable, with labor market conditions playing a major role in this grimmer assessment," said Lynn Franco, director of The Conference Board Consumer Research Center.

Those claiming business conditions are "bad" rose to 47.1% in October from 46.3% in September, according to the index's survey. Those claiming jobs are "hard to get" rose to 49.6% from 47.0%.

The index's survey includes 5,000 U.S. households.