GfK: UK Consumer Confidence Ticks Up in December Amid Muted Economic Outlook

05:51 AM EST, 12/19/2025 (MT Newswires) -- UK consumer sentiment was better than expected in December, even as macroeconomic headwinds continue to impact consumer outlook. The British consumer confidence indicator rose to -17 points in December from -19 points in the previous month, beating market forecasts of -18 points, market research company Growth from Knowledge said Friday. The reading showed a rise across all five measures heading into Christmas, driven by a four-point surge in the major purchase index to -11 points. The latest figure for the major purchase indicator also marks a five-point improvement compared with the same period in the previous year. GfK consumer insights director Neil Bellamy highlighted that the "surprise" uptick contrasted with the recent Black Friday sales "slump." Concurrently, Bellamy noted the December headline score remained unchanged over the last 12 months, signaling 2025 was a "year of no progress." Meanwhile, expectations for the general economic situation over the next 12 months are three points worse than the same period last year, at -29 points, as consumers in the UK continue to face cost-of-living concerns alongside increasing economic uncertainty. "Sadly, consumers resemble a family on a festive winter hike, crossing a boggy field - plodding along stoically, getting stuck in the mud and hoping that easier conditions are not far off," Bellamy said. On the other hand, personal finances outlook over the next year rose by one to 2 points from December 2024, while the savings index remained unchanged at 24 points. The latter is commented on in the survey but not counted in the overall index score.