Mortgage data expected to hint at improvement – London Report June 28, 2015 MORTGAGE approvals data from the Bank of England, out today, is expected to show an improvement in housing market activity during May. The bank is expected to reveal that mortgage approvals for house purchases rose modestly further to be at a 15-month high of 68,500 during the month. GDP growth is likely to be revised [...]
British consumers are upbeat after General Election outcome May 28, 2015 UK shoppers were slightly less confident this month, but confidence levels remain relatively high, according to survey figures published today. The consumer confidence index put together by market researchers GFK edged down to a score of one for May, from April’s four. However, it is up on the same month last year when it scored [...]
Confidence reaches 13-year high in Germany but dips in France May 27, 2015 CONFIDENCE among German shoppers has edged up to its highest level since 2001, but has stalled in France, according to figures published yesterday. The German consumer confidence index, produced by market research firm GfK, climbed marginally to a score of 10.2 for June from 10.1 in May. “Very strong domestic demand in Germany and the [...]
Slip in consumer confidence despite retail sales growth – London Report May 25, 2015 DATA on GDP growth, consumer confidence and house prices are due out this week, and today sees the release of the CBI Distributive Trades Survey. The CBI’s research is expected to show robust retail sales growth in May. GDP growth in the first quarter is likely to be revised up to 0.4 per cent quarter-on-quarter [...]
Consumer optimism gives mixed signals ahead of General Election as confidence index plateaus April 29, 2015 Consumer confidence is high going into the General Election, new figures show today, but has failed to improve on last month. The consumer confidence index produced by market researchers GfK remained at a score of four in April. Despite confidence failing to improve on March, it is at its highest level for over a [...]
Does Good Friday spell bad times ahead? – Bottom Line April 7, 2015 At first glance, Springboard’s footfall figures for the Bank Holiday weekend seem frightening enough to scare away the Easter bunny – especially on the high street where footfall declined as much as 10 per cent on Good Friday. It is as though Britons received the wrong memo – believing that shops in fact weren’t open, [...]
UK consumer confidence at a 13-year high in March March 30, 2015 Consumer confidence soared to a 13-year high in March, with Britons preparing to splash their cash over the long Easter weekend. GfK’s closely watched index rose by three points to a score of plus four in March compared with the previous month, with consumers more upbeat in all five areas used to track confidence. The [...]
Here’s where the UK ranks among the world’s happiest economies March 3, 2015 While many in the UK are still waiting to see a real increase in their living standards after years of stagnating wages, mediocre growth and high taxes things may not be as dreary as they seem. According to Bloomberg's misery index the UK is one of best economies in the world. With plummeting unemployment and [...]
Surveys reveal UK consumers are optimistic on the economy February 26, 2015 CONSUMER confidence is at pre-recession levels, new figures show. The consumer confidence index released today by German market research company GFK maintained a score of one for February. At the peak of the financial crisis, the index hit minus 40, but is now at levels last seen in 2005. Another measure of consumer confidence released [...]
Confident shoppers boost economic growth hopes January 29, 2015 UK CONSUMER confidence saw a large jump in January, in a renewed sign that the economic recovery will continue strongly into 2015. Retail sales also grew strongly in the month, according to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), indicating consumers are increasingly upbeat. The consumer confidence index compiled by market researchers GfK reached a score [...]