The UK GfK Consumer Confidence Index fell to -19 in February 2026 from -16 in January, reversing the gains recorded over the previous two months and undershooting market expectations for an improvement to -15, as rising unemployment weighed on sentiment. The jobless rate climbed to a post-pandemic high of 5.2% in the three months to December, while youth unemployment surged to 16.4%, its highest level in over a decade. Neil Bellamy, Consumer Insights Director at GfK, said the trend “is increasing concerns about job security, particularly given the backdrop of weak wage growth.” He added that “with fewer entry-level opportunities available, those on lower incomes are already feeling the strain and this trend risks undermining the typically more optimistic outlook held by younger age groups.” The overall decline was largely driven by deteriorating views of personal finances, with respondents reporting a four-point drop in assessments of both the past year and the year ahead. source: GfK Group

Consumer Confidence in the United Kingdom decreased to -19 points in February from -16 points in January of 2026. Consumer Confidence in the United Kingdom averaged -11.13 points from 1981 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 10.00 points in June of 1987 and a record low of -49.00 points in September of 2022. This page provides the latest reported value for - United Kingdom Consumer Confidence - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. United Kingdom Consumer Confidence - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on March of 2026.

Consumer Confidence in the United Kingdom decreased to -19 points in February from -16 points in January of 2026. Consumer Confidence in the United Kingdom is expected to be -18.00 points by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the United Kingdom Consumer Confidence is projected to trend around -6.00 points in 2027 and -3.00 points in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-01-23 12:01 AM
Gfk Consumer Confidence
Jan -16 -17 -16 -17
2026-02-27 12:01 AM
Gfk Consumer Confidence
Feb -19 -16 -15 -16
2026-03-27 12:01 AM
Gfk Consumer Confidence
Mar -19 -18


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Bank Lending Rate 8.61 8.63 percent Dec 2025
CBI Distributive Trades -43.00 -17.00 Net Balance Feb 2026
GfK Consumer Confidence -19.00 -16.00 points Feb 2026
BoE Consumer Credit 1812.00 1652.00 GBP Million Jan 2026
Consumer Spending 418232.00 417589.00 GBP Million Dec 2025
Disposable Personal Income 439388.00 442292.00 GBP Million Sep 2025
Gasoline Prices 1.79 1.77 USD/Liter Feb 2026
Households Debt to GDP 74.30 74.90 percent of GDP Jun 2025
Net Lending to Individuals MoM 5888.00 6144.00 GBP Million Jan 2026
Personal Savings 9.50 10.20 percent Sep 2025
Retail Sales ex Fuel MoM 2.00 0.30 percent Jan 2026
Retail Sales MoM 1.80 0.40 percent Jan 2026
Retail Sales YoY 4.50 1.90 percent Jan 2026


United Kingdom Consumer Confidence
In the United Kingdom, the consumer confidence survey measures the level of optimism that consumers have about the performance of the economy in the next 12 months. The GfK Consumer Confidence is derived from the survey of about 2,000 consumers which are ask to rate the relative level of past and future economic conditions including personal financial situation, climate for major purchases, overall economic situation and savings level.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-19.00 -16.00 10.00 -49.00 1981 - 2026 points Monthly

News Stream
UK Consumer Confidence Weakens in February
The UK GfK Consumer Confidence Index fell to -19 in February 2026 from -16 in January, reversing the gains recorded over the previous two months and undershooting market expectations for an improvement to -15, as rising unemployment weighed on sentiment. The jobless rate climbed to a post-pandemic high of 5.2% in the three months to December, while youth unemployment surged to 16.4%, its highest level in over a decade. Neil Bellamy, Consumer Insights Director at GfK, said the trend “is increasing concerns about job security, particularly given the backdrop of weak wage growth.” He added that “with fewer entry-level opportunities available, those on lower incomes are already feeling the strain and this trend risks undermining the typically more optimistic outlook held by younger age groups.” The overall decline was largely driven by deteriorating views of personal finances, with respondents reporting a four-point drop in assessments of both the past year and the year ahead.
2026-02-27
UK Consumer Confidence Remains Subdued
The UK GfK Consumer Confidence Index edged up to -16 in January 2026 from -17 in December, pointing to household resilience rather than renewed optimism, as the broader economic outlook remains subdued. The latest reading also marked 10 years since the index last stood in positive territory. Confidence in personal finances over the next 12 months rose four points to +6, eight points higher than a year earlier. By contrast, expectations for the general economic situation over the coming year slipped two points to -31, though this remains three points above last January’s level. The Major Purchase Index, which gauges sentiment toward big ticket spending, improved by one point to -10, standing 10 points higher than a year ago. Commenting on the data, GfK Consumer Insights Director Neil Bellamy noted that despite the one point improvement in headline confidence, consumers remain far from feeling that an economic turnaround is imminent.
2026-01-23
UK Consumer Confidence Improves in December
The GfK Consumer Confidence Index for the UK rose to -17 in December 2025 from -19 in November, beating forecasts of -18 and signaling a modest improvement in sentiment ahead of the Christmas period. Despite the uptick, confidence remains subdued amid persistent cost-of-living pressures and broader economic uncertainty. All five components of the survey improved during the month, rebounding from a November downturn that had been weighed down by pre-budget uncertainty. The major purchase index, which gauges willingness to buy big-ticket items, climbed four points to -11, suggesting stronger holiday sales momentum compared with Black Friday last month. However, GfK Consumer Insights Director Neil Bellamy cautioned that “UK households continue to face cost-of-living pressures despite the recent easing in inflation, alongside rising economic uncertainty, and these conditions are likely to restrain consumer confidence.”
2025-12-19