Consumer confidence holds steady in April
Consumer confidence in the UK held steady in April and its highest level since 2002.
GfK’s latest Consumer Confidence Barometer shows that the headline index remained at 4 during the month.
The research firm said the news offered mixed fortunes for the government as it goes into the election.
Nick Moon, managing director of social research at GfK, said: “On the one hand, there is no continuing momentum – the index has not risen since last month – while on the other hand the index is standing at a far higher point than when the government came to power.
“In May 2010, the core index score was –18. After dipping to as low as -33 in December 2011, it was out of negative territory at zero by May 2014 and over the past 11 months has recorded six positive scores. We haven’t seen the scores of the past two months (+4) since September 2002.”
While the forecast for personal finances over the next 12 months remained the same at 7, the index measuring expectations for the general economic situation over the next 12 months was also unchanged at 6.
Meanwhile, the climate for major purchase index decreased by three points to 6. This is 10 points higher than the same time last year.
