In December 2025, UK consumer confidence showed a modest improvement, rising by two points to reach -17, according to the GfK Consumer Confidence Index. All five of the measures tracked by the index registered gains, signaling a slight uplift in sentiment, although overall confidence remained subdued after a year of little progress. The Major Purchase Index, which tracks intentions to spend on big-ticket items such as furniture, increased by four points to -11, marking a five-point improvement compared to the same period last year. Measures of personal finances over the past twelve months rose slightly, as did perceptions of the general economic situation, while the Savings Index remained unchanged but higher than last year.
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Neil Bellamy, Consumer Insights Director at GfK, suggested that the increase may reflect a temporary boost in optimism surrounding the festive season, particularly as Black Friday sales had shown weaker performance earlier in the month. Despite this small improvement, UK households continue to face significant cost-of-living pressures and economic uncertainty, which have kept consumer confidence largely flat over the course of 2025. Bellamy likened consumers' experience to a family navigating a boggy winter field—plodding along stoically while hoping for better conditions ahead. Overall, the December results indicate that while there is some cautious optimism, the underlying challenges facing consumers remain significant, influencing their willingness to make major purchases such as furniture.
Source: www.bigfurnituregroup.com
