Consumer confidence edges up in December
Consumer confidence has edged up this month but remains subdued ahead of Christmas.
GfK’s Consumer Confidence Index has risen by two points to -17 in December with all measures up compared to November.
While the forecast for personal finances over the next 12 months is up one point to 2, GfK’s measure for expectations for the general economic situation has risen by three points to -29.
Meanwhile, the major purchase index has increased by four points to -11, which GfK said was a surprise finding considering the Black Friday sales slump it reported on earlier this month.
Subscribe to TRBNeil Bellamy, consumer insights director at GfK, added: “Have people decided to spend on Christmas regardless, and worry about 2026 later? However, looking at the full year, the December headline score of -17 is the same as 12 months ago, and on that basis 2025 has been a year of no progress.
“UK households still face cost-of-living pressures, despite the recent softening in inflation, along with rising economic uncertainty, and those conditions result in weaker consumer confidence.
“Sadly, consumers resemble a family on a festive winter hike, crossing a boggy field – plodding along stoically, getting stuck in the mud and hoping that easier conditions are not far off.”
