Survey: UK consumer confidence drops to 17-month low, affected by rising bills and trade war pressures.

A survey on Friday showed that with rising bills and the impact of the US trade war, people have become more pessimistic about the economic outlook, with consumer confidence in the UK dropping to the lowest level since November 2023. The GfK Consumer Confidence Index for April fell from -19 in March to -23, lower than the economists surveyed by the media had previously expected of -22. Families' views on the UK economic outlook have become more pessimistic, with the expectations index falling to the lowest level since March 2023. Overall, the survey has become another sign of weak business and consumer confidence. Businesses and consumers are struggling to cope with the trade war initiated by US President Trump and the ongoing domestic inflation pressures.