United Kingdom: Consumer confidence falls and remains in negative territory in December
Consumer confidence fell to minus 15.0 in December from November’s minus 14.0, amid rising Covid-19 cases and restrictions. As such, the index remained entrenched below the 0-point threshold, signaling sustained pessimism among consumers.
The fall came on the back of a deterioration in consumers’ views of the general economic situation over the next 12 months. In addition, their sentiment regarding their financial situation over the next 12 months weakened, and consumers grew less willing to make major purchases.
Regarding the reading, Joe Staton, GfK’s client strategy director, stated:
“We end 2021 on a slightly depressed note and it looks like it will be a bleak midwinter for UK consumer confidence possibly with new Covid-19 curbs and little likelihood of any real uplift in the first months of 2022.”