WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. consumer confidence declined again in September as Americans’ pessimism over inflation and the weakening job market continued to grow. A measure of Americans’ short-term expectations for their income, business conditions and the job market fell to 73.4, remaining well below 80, the marker that can signal a recession ahead. Government data released earlier this month showed that inflation rose in August as the price of gas, groceries and airfares jumped. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, core prices rose 3.1%, the same as in July. More jobs data comes Friday when the government releases its September labor market data, with analysts forecasting 50,000 job gains.