US consumer confidence cooled this month as worries over personal finances mounted, according to the Royal Bank of Canada’s latest CASH (Consumer Attitudes and Spending by Household) Index.

Economic attitudes soured across the board, with consumers viewing the current economy negatively and displaying increased pessimism about the future. As a result, the RBC Index for February 2010 stands at 39.4, down 18.9 points from January's 58.3 reading.

"Although numerous economic indicators are trending in a favorable direction, it's evident that 'less-bad' is just not good enough for US consumers," said RBC Capital Markets' US economist Tom Porcelli. "This month's reading suggests that consumers continue to feel financial pressure from recent volatility in stocks and a soft job market."