UK consumer confidence ticks higher in December - GfK

UK consumer confidence edged higher in December, a long-running survey showed on Friday, as people became more optimistic for the year ahead.

GfK’s consumer confidence index, which has been running since 1974, rose two points this month to -22.

Within that, all five measures showed modest improvement. The personal finance situation for the coming year ticked up 1 point at -2, while the outlook for the general economic situation also improved by 1 point, to -25.

The major purchase index rose one point to -23.

Joe Staton, client strategy director at GfK, said: "Against the backdrop of flattening economic growth, interest rates at a 15-year high and price rises potentially eroding disposable income for years to come, the index shows a modest improvement this month.

"Although the headline figure of -22 means the nation’s confidence is still firmly in negative territory, optimism for our personal finances for the next 12 months shows a notable recovery from the depressed -29 this time last year.

"Recovery in this number is importanta, as it best reflects household financial optimism and control over personal budgets."

The survey of 2,003 individuals aged 16 and over was carried about between 29 November and 8 December.