British consumers became slightly more pessimistic in December amid high inflation and news of the Omicron mutation, which overshadowed the short-term outlook for the economy and personal finances.
GfK Consumer Confidence Index fell to -15 points in December from -14 points in November.
The decrease is smaller than the estimates for -18 points expected by economists.
The main market index fell by three points, signaling that consumers are less willing to go to big markets just before Christmas.
“The news about Omicron could not have come at a worse time, just before Christmas,” said Joe Staton, director of strategy.
Consumers’ perceptions of the economy and their personal finances also deteriorated slightly in December, mainly due to concerns about higher living costs and the prospect of impending interest rate hikes.
Staton even stressed that consumer confidence is not expected to recover soon due to uncertainty about the pandemic and the impending restrictions.
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Source From: Capital
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