Data: The Conference Board and The Business Council; Chart: Axios/Emily Peck

CEO confidence in the U.S. economy sank into negative territory earlier this month, finds a survey out Thursday morning from the Conference Board .

Why it matters: Business leaders are mind-melding with most consumers, whose opinions on the economy are now lower than during the pandemic .

Such sour sentiment is shaping up as a key issue in the midterms just weeks away.

Where it stands: The CEO Confidence Index fell to 46 in the most recent period, down from 52 just three months ago — any number below 50 connotes negative sentiment.

The nonprofit Conference Board and the Business Council surveyed 131 Fortune 500 CEOs from Sept. 21-Oct.…