UK consumer confidence overtakes global average

By

Cajsa Lykke Carlson

Published
Jul 27, 2015

New statistics from Nielsen, the global provider of information and insights, show that UK consumer confidence is above the global average for the first time in nine years.

The UK Consumer Confidence Index rose from 97 in Q1 2015 to 99 in Q2 2015. At the same time, the global level fell from 97 to 96. The UK index hasn't been higher than the global index since in 2001, Tony Blair's third term as Prime Minister, when it was 101 and the global index was 96.

For the first time in more than five years, the UK consumer confidence index is also higher than Germany's, which has fallen from 100 to 97. Consumers in the UK are now the second most confident in Europe - only below Denmark, where the index is at 112 - and the fourth most confident globally.

The survey also found that the number of Brits feeling positive about their personal finances increased for the second consecutive quarter to 53% – the highest level for nearly eight years (Q3 2007, 54%).

A consumer confidence score above 100 indicates degrees of optimism – below 100, degrees of pessimism.