29 March 2024, 15:02
By Furniture News Feb 28, 2019

Consumer confidence holds up through February

GfK’s Consumer Confidence Index increased by one point in February 2019 to -13. Three measures increased – among them, the major purchase index increased three points to +5, leaving it five points higher YoY – and two stayed at the same level.

Joe Staton, client strategy director at GfK, says: “Despite a slowdown in overall growth and concerns about the impact of Brexit uncertainty on the UK economy, topline consumer confidence is stable again this month. Although bumping along in negative territory, the Overall Index Score is not showing any sign of making the dramatic drop seen after the June 2016 Brexit Referendum, or in the early days of the last financial downturn.

"While the view on personal finances looking at the year to come is still marginally positive, the continuing depressed sentiment towards the general economic situation might point towards the calm before the storm of post-Brexit headwinds and potential negative economic outcomes. Are we on the edge of some kind of economic or livelihood precipice? Consumers are like markets, they respond to certainty and that’s in short supply just now. It is worth bearing in mind that many economic indicators (employment levels, wage growth) remain positive. But it is frankly amazing that confidence is so stoic and stable in a world of sharp political instability and fear of the unknown.”

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