Another Flat Month for UK Consumer Confidence

The UK's Consumer Confidence Index, researched by Martin Hamblin GfK on behalf of the European Commission, remained static in September with an overall score of -3. The index appears to have stabilised after swings around the time of the Iraq war.

Among the key indicators, most are little changed:

• perceptions of the development of personal finances over the last 12 months have dropped for the second month running, from a score of 0 to -1, but the outlook for the next 12 months is considered slightly brighter - two points up at +11.
• perceptions of the general economic situation developing over the next 12 months were the same as last month at -15, 7 points lower than this time last year. Expectations for the next 12 months have risen just 1 point to -28.
• the biggest changes concern attitudes to saving and spending. Perceptions of the climate for making major purchases have fallen by 4 points to +15; whereas the climate for savings is seen as healthier, rising by 4 points to -2.

The survey was conducted amongst a sample of 2125 individuals aged 16+ between 28th August and 16th September.