Consumer confidence up slightly as Brits lean on financial ‘resilience’

Business & FinancePersonal Finance
23 Jan 2026 • 10:00 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • The GfK Consumer Confidence Index increased by one point to minus 16 in January, marking 10 years since it was last in positive territory.
  • The slight rise is attributed to household “resilience” concerning personal finances, with confidence in this area improving by four points for the next year.
  • Despite this, expectations for the general economic situation over the coming 12 months fell by two points to minus 31.
  • The Major Purchase Index, which measures confidence in buying big-ticket items, rose by one point to minus 10.
  • GfK's consumer insights director stated that the improvement reflects consumers focusing on what they can control, describing the sentiment as “resilience” rather than “optimism” about the wider economy.

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