23.01.202600:18:22UTC+00UK Consumer Confidence Remains Subdued

The UK's GfK Consumer Confidence Index saw a slight increase in January 2026, moving to -16 from -17 in December. This change signals that households are displaying resilience rather than renewed optimism, as the broader economic forecast continues to be lackluster. Notably, this latest figure marks a decade since the index last showed a positive reading. Confidence in personal finances for the upcoming 12 months increased by four points to +6, which is eight points higher than at the same time last year. In contrast, expectations for the overall economic situation in the next year decreased by two points to -31, although this is still an improvement of three points compared to last January. Additionally, the Major Purchase Index, which reflects consumer sentiment towards significant expenditures, rose by one point to -10, marking a 10-point increase over the past year. Neil Bellamy, GfK's Consumer Insights Director, commented on the data, highlighting that despite the minor improvement in overall confidence, consumers are still far from believing that an economic recovery is on the horizon.