Consumer confidence remains positive as 2015 closes
UK consumer confidence has edged up in December as people feel more positive about their personal finances.
GfK’s long-running Consumer Confidence Index has increased by one point to 2 in December to mark the first time the index has shown positive scores for an entire calendar year.
While the index relating to the forecast for personal finances over the next 12 months increased by three points to 9, the index measuring expectations for the general economic situation held steady at -6.
Meanwhile, the climate for major purchase index declined by two points to 7 which is eight points higher than the same time last year.
Joe Staton, head of market dynamics at GfK, said: “Consumer confidence has remained strong for all of 2015 with an average at +3 for the past 12-months. This is the first time since the Consumer Confidence Barometer started in 1974 that the index has remained positive for an entire calendar year.
“The last time we were able to report a similar long run of strong news was back in 2002, although the year ended on that occasion with an index score of -4 after 11 consecutive positive monthly totals.”