Future Retirement Success
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks

Future Retirement Success

Business

Consumer confidence hits new low

by August 19, 2022
August 19, 2022
Consumer confidence hits new low

Consumer confidence has fallen to a new record low as people facing painful budget squeezes have become “exasperated” at the state of the economy.

A closely watched monthly survey of sentiment reversed a rebound in July to fall to its lowest level since records began in 1974. The index, compiled by GfK, has dropped three points this month as consumers battle runaway inflation, a growing tax burden and fail to secure wage increases in line with rising prices.

“These findings point to a sense of capitulation and financial events moving far beyond the control of ordinary people,” Joe Staton, client strategy director at GfK, said. “With headline after headline revealing record inflation eroding household buying power, the strain on the personal finances of many is alarming. Just making ends meet has become a nightmare and the crisis of confidence will only worsen with the darkening days of autumn and the colder months of winter.”

Household confidence surveys are a gauge of the future health of the economy, asking respondents about their spending expectations for the months ahead. The UK economy registered a 0.1 per cent GDP contraction in the three months to June and will have officially fallen into recession if growth turns negative in the third quarter.

All five of GfK’s sub-indices have fallen in August, including measures on future purchases, a consumer’s personal financial situation in the past 12 months and the coming 12 months. The August figures have wiped out a slight rebound in the survey measured in July. “A sense of exasperation about the UK’s economy is the biggest driver of these findings,” Staton said. The index fell to a record low in April, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with a crucial sub-measure on the general economy declining every month since December last year.

Consumer prices inflation has hit double-digits for the first time since 1980 at 10.1 per cent and is ahead of forecasts from the Bank of England. The Bank estimates it will peak at 13.3 per cent this autumn, while forecasters such as Citigroup expect a 15 per cent peak next year. Bank of America’s analysts project a high of 14 per cent.

Household energy bills will triple in October compared with April, exceeding £3,600, and could climb to £5,000 next year. The Bank expects the economy to tip into recession at the end of the year, with the downturn persisting for 15 months. Linda Ellett, UK head of consumer markets at KPMG, said households and retailers were braced for “what is looming on the horizon. So far this year retail sales have somewhat defied the very low levels of consumer confidence. But a widespread reduction in spending ability will lead to drops in demand and changing buying behaviour, both of which will impact the high street and wider economy.

“The scale of the demand reduction remains unknown, but retailers know there will be various trade-down audiences and treat occasions. The key to weathering this storm is to try and capture and retain those customers, from those seeking out more value products through to those swapping meals out for premium-range meals.”

Read more:
Consumer confidence hits new low

0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
previous post
Angling Direct’s sales dry up amid falling water levels after ‘too hot to fish’ summer
next post
Covid infections study increases calls for masks

You may also like

Members of ‘pension liberation scheme’ lose tax case

March 28, 2023

CBI business group boss Danker sacked after misconduct...

April 11, 2023

Unloc and Verizon Launch the Young Entrepreneurs Challenge...

October 4, 2023

New Research Shows $42 Trillion Locked in Global...

February 21, 2024

Intel to cut 15,000 jobs in bid to...

August 2, 2024

UK’s Petrol & Diesel ban delay will release...

September 21, 2023

A fifth of UK workers risk diabetes by...

January 24, 2023

Clearing the Clutter: Why Efficient Property Clearance is...

May 25, 2025

Kier Starmer to tell Davos a Labour Britain...

January 19, 2023

Mike Ashley scores in £17m deal to buy...

November 18, 2022

    Get free access to all of the retirement secrets and income strategies from our experts! or Join The Exclusive Subscription Today And Get the Premium Articles Acess for Free

    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent Posts

    • Good Riddance to the Penny

      June 5, 2025
    • Oracle Fusion Testing: The UK Leader’s Playbook for Automation

      June 5, 2025
    • Blue state Republicans threaten rebellion if Senate changes key provision in Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’

      June 5, 2025
    • Ricketts, Fetterman team up for crackdown on China’s attempts to purchase US farmland

      June 5, 2025
    • Hamas working to ‘sabotage’ Trump-backed aid group with ‘fake news’: Israeli official

      June 5, 2025
    • Longtime Trump loyalist flips on GOP’s ‘big, beautiful bill’

      June 5, 2025

    Categories

    • Business (8,148)
    • Investing (2,009)
    • Politics (15,529)
    • Stocks (3,128)
    • About us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Disclaimer: futureretirementsuccess.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2025 futureretirementsuccess.com | All Rights Reserved