Economists reject OECD’s gloomy GDP predictions March 29, 2012 THE UK is now in recession with January to March set to mark a second quarter of economic contraction for the UK, the influential OECD group predicted yesterday, as a survey out today revealed consumer confidence fell again in March. However other economists cast doubt on the OECD’s gloomy claim, pointing to healthy business survey [...]
French confidence spikes but oil prices hit German recovery March 27, 2012 FRENCH consumer confidence rose to its highest level in more than a year in March, figures showed yesterday, as hopes rose that a change of government in France could boost the economy. However, German confidence, which has grown strongly in recent months, fell very slightly as worries grew over the increasing price of oil. German [...]
Consumers remain cautious but show signs for optimism February 28, 2012 CONFIDENCE in the UK remained at very low levels this month, according to a survey published today. The GfK NOP index showed consumers feel slightly less negative about their financial situation over the past year, but are still worried about the general economic situation and are more concerned about making large purchases. The overall index [...]
Figures to shed light on outlook for UK’s stores February 26, 2012 RETAILERS will be looking for signs of green shoots this week, with the release of two important gauges for the UK high street. The CBI’s distributive trades survey will shed light tomorrow on the current fortunes for British shops. And a separate survey on Wednesday, from GfK NOP, will reveal if consumer confidence is continuing [...]
Morale among consumers lifts in Germany January 26, 2012 CONSUMER sentiment in Germany is set to improve for the fifth consecutive month in February, according to survey data released yesterday by GfK. And French consumers became slightly less pessimistic in December, official statistics agency Insee said. However, Italian confidence remains at its lowest level in 16 years. The GfK economic expectations index for Germany [...]
Gloomy New Year as shops predict slump December 20, 2011 RETAIL sales are higher now than the run-up to Christmas a year ago, the Confederation of British Industry’s (CBI) distributive trades survey showed yesterday – the first year-on-year rise since May. But the expansion is not expected to last, with sales set to fall again next month and consumer confidence dropping again, claims researcher GfK. [...]
MPC’s Fisher: Significant risk of a double dip recession in the UK October 27, 2011 A RECESSION may be on the way, Paul Fisher from the Bank of England’s monetary policy committee (MPC) warned yesterday, as new data revealed retail sales and consumer confidence are plummeting. The economy could “slide back approaching a recession, which is always possible with the sort of financial crisis overhanging,” Fisher told Bloomberg Television. In [...]
Consumer confidence hits four-month low September 21, 2011 Consumer confidence slipped to a four-month low in August as the economy remained in the doldrums, the monthly Nationwide survey showed – though the building society said it was a relief that the drop was not bigger. Many big English cities were hit by their worst rioting in decades last month, and global economic uncertainty [...]
Deeper gloom on high street August 30, 2011 CONSUMER confidence has sunk further on both sides on the pond, according to fresh data. A widely-regarded measure of sentiment on the UK high street was confirmed this morning at 13 points below its level at the same time last year. The GfK NOP consumer confidence index — which slipped to a score of -31 [...]
Consumer confidence declines in July July 29, 2011 UK consumer confidence has fallen sharply in July and is now languishing at one of the lowest levels on record as people fretted over the economy’s future. Think tank GfK NOP said its consumer confidence index fell to -30 in July, the second large fall after a slump to -25 in June from a five-month [...]