Consumer confidence hits new high
The Lloyds Bank Spending Power Report for August finds that consumer confidence has continued to rise, with the index reaching 152 points, the highest ever seen in the survey.
August saw a 16 point improvement in the UK’s economic situation from last month, in part reflecting improved sentiment about the outlook for inflation. Overall, the economic situation index was 115 points higher than this time last year.
Continued falls in per-customer spending on essentials, overall around 0.5% lower than a year ago, also suggest a more favourable outlook for consumers. Among categories of essential spending, the fall in spending on gas and electricity continues, around 4% lower than a year ago, while the pace of decline on automotive fuel spending has levelled at around 5% lower than this time last year.
Patrick Foley, Chief Economist at Lloyds Bank, said: “An ongoing UK economic recovery remains most visible in the positive employment outlook, which continues to provide the most tangible support to consumer sentiment. But against a backdrop of still-subdued wage growth, reduced pressure on household budgets from spending on essentials helps provide the room to undertake discretionary spending, further supporting the recovery.”
Current situation
Consumer sentiment towards the country’s financial situation continued to improve in August with the balance of opinion up six points from last month, although the net sentiment balance remains negative at -27%. Greater London continues to be the most positive region and has now reached a positive balance of 5% (from -3%), with the second most positive region being the South East at -21%. Scotland continues to be amongst the least positive regions (-41%), along with the North East (-44%).
Feelings towards the housing market remain broadly steady with a balance of -13%, a +10 point improvement from this time last year. The East Midlands is the most positive region for August (-1%), while a fall in sentiment in Wales has left it as the most negative region this month at -29%.
Attitude towards the current employment situation has seen a significant year on year improvement, up seven points to -18% from last month, and -62% from this time last year. Sentiment in Greater London has now reached a positive balance (6%) and it continues to be the most positive region, followed by the South East (-4%). Feelings in Wales have declined 32 points to -49% and are now the most negative, with the North East also remaining pessimistic at -40%. Mirroring the improvement in the employment situation, consumer sentiment around job security has continued to improve, with a balance of +58% in August, up two points from last month, and 12 points from this time last year.
Consumers’ sentiment about their own personal financial situation has improved six points for August to 18%. Greater London is the most positive region at 36%, followed by Yorkshire and Humberside at 31%. Northern Ireland is the least positive region at 4%.
Philip Robinson, Director of Personal Current Accounts at Lloyds Bank said: ““People are feeling more confident than ever about the state of the nation’s finances as well as their individual financial situation. Confidence in the UK’s economy has improved, helping people to make their own plans with more conviction. As the future situation looks even rosier, now is a good time to starting saving for Christmas and spread the cost over the next three months.”
Future situation
The balance of opinion on future discretionary income between those feeling they will have more versus less money in the next six months remains at 5%, which is an eight point increase compared to this time last year. Greater London region tends to be the most positive, at +22%. Those in Wales (-12%) and North East (-10%) are the most negative.
Sentiment towards future saving saw a four point increase taking the balance of opinion to 13% for August. Feelings in Greater London have improved by 13 points to 39%, while the South West saw a nine point decline to 1%.
Meanwhile, the balance of opinion on future spending was little changed this month at -1%. Opinion in Greater London is the most positive (13%), however this is down 5 points from July. Feelings across Northern Ireland have improved, with the balance at -2%, a 17 point increase on July.