CBI says retail sales bounced back in October October 30, 2012 UK RETAILERS reported a rapidly improving sales climate in October, according to data out yesterday, driving hopes for continued expansion. Thirty percentage points more retailers saw improving than worsening sales in October, according to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), up from a net balance of six per cent in September and well above firm [...]
UK consumers less downbeat September 27, 2012 UK consumer confidence grew in September, an index from market research firm GfK revealed today, but households were still gloomy. Their headline index grew from minus 29 in August to minus 28 in September, putting the index two points above September last year. “Even a one point increase…will offer some grounds for optimism to the [...]
Boost to consumer morale in Germany and Italy but French industry struggling September 25, 2012 GERMAN consumers will maintain their good spirits into October, just as Italian consumer sentiment also seemed to be improving, two sets of data showed yesterday. Consumer confidence was at an index score of 5.9 in Germany, according to a forward looking measure from researchers GfK, the same positive result as last month. GfK said this [...]
LONDON WEEK AHEAD July 29, 2012 RESULTS season continues with a slew of banks, energy and leisure firms due to update this week, while the Bank of England’s monthly decision on interest rates is due on Thursday. Today’s biggest news comes in the form of interims from under-fire banking giant HSBC and household goods behemoth Reckitt Benckiser. The Bank is set [...]
Consumer confidence stays low June 28, 2012 UK consumers remained down in the dumps about the economy last month, according to the latest GfK confidence figures. The survey showed an index score of -29 for the economy, in line with May’s reading and slightly down on the -25 figure seen this time last year. Brits are even gloomier about the country’s finances [...]
Egan-Jones cuts German outlook June 26, 2012 Credit ratings agency Egan-Jones last night cut Germany’s rating to A-plus with a negative outlook from AA-minus, saying that whether or not Greece or other Eurozone members exit the monetary union, Germany will be left with “massive” additional, uncollectible receivables. The downgrade came as GfK said German consumer confidence is holding up, with its household [...]
UK confidence at rock bottom May 30, 2012 FEARS that the economy is worsening has kept consumer confidence at extreme low levels, according to the Gfk confidence index published today, making consumers increasingly unlikely to commit to making major purchases. The overall confidence index improved slightly, up from minus 31 in April to minus 29 in May, but the general economic situation index [...]
Retailers hit as UK consumers stay cautious April 26, 2012 RETAIL sales slid in April as shoppers remained wary of making big purchases, influential survey data showed yesterday, while consumer confidence remained low. However, retailers remained upbeat on future sales, according to the Confederation of British Industry’s (CBI) distributive trades survey, indicating they expect the economy to improve. The study shows 33 per cent of [...]
Dip in consumer morale dents recovery hopes March 30, 2012 Consumer confidence unexpectedly fell to a three-month low in March as Britons grew increasingly worried about the outlook for their finances and for the economy as a whole, denting hopes of a consumer-fuelled recovery. The headline consumer confidence index, based on a survey by GfK NOP, fell to -31 in March from -29 in February, [...]
FTSE buoyed by miners March 30, 2012 The FTSE 100 rebounded in early trading as mining stocks continued to edge up. In London copper prices climbed and are on track for a more than 10 per cent first-quarter gain. However more sluggish demand from China is still casting a shadow. Among miners Kazakhmys and Antofagasta were the star performers, up two per [...]