Client confidence in UK financial system falls to lowest degree in two years

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Your assist makes all of the distinction. Learn extra Client confidence sooner or later UK financial system has plummeted over the past yr, figures counsel.

Which? mentioned the figures confirmed a “vital fall” to a few of the lowest ranges seen since early 2023, when the cost-of-living disaster was within the headlines and inflation was in double figures.

Confidence sooner or later financial system declined sharply final autumn and was significantly low between February to Might, when world occasions such because the US tariff coverage contributed to the pessimism.

Confidence had recovered somewhat since, however remained significantly decrease than 12 months in the past.

Confidence has tumbled by 31 factors over the past yr, from a median of minus 9 between Might and July 2024 to a median of minus 40 between Might and July this yr, Which?’s Client Perception Tracker reveals.

On common between this Might and July, 56 per cent of individuals thought the financial system would worsen and simply 16 per cent thought it will get higher.

Pensioners have been probably the most pessimistic group, with their confidence sooner or later UK financial system falling dramatically from a median of minus 5 between Might and July final yr to a present common of minus 63.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/08/14/19/46/GettyImages-1248914788.jpg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/08/14/19/46/GettyImages-1248914788.jpg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/08/14/19/46/GettyImages-1248914788.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="Financial difficulties from the height of the cost-of-living crisis are yet to return to the previous levels" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE"/> Monetary difficulties from the peak of the cost-of-living disaster are but to return to the earlier ranges (AFP by way of Getty Photographs) Pensioners’ confidence dropped dramatically in autumn final yr – shortly after the federal government’s first announcement of scrapping the winter gasoline allowance for many pensioners – and has remained low since, despite the Authorities U-turn on gasoline funds.

Which?’s figures counsel that monetary difficulties from the peak of the cost-of-living disaster are but to return to the earlier ranges.

Within the month to July 18, an estimated 2.1 million households missed at the very least one important fee corresponding to hire or mortgage funds, utility payments, bank card or mortgage funds.

An estimated 13.9 million households (49 per cent) additionally made at the very least one adjustment to cowl important spending corresponding to utility payments, housing prices, groceries, faculty provides and medicines within the final month – corresponding to chopping again on necessities, dipping into financial savings, promoting possessions or borrowing.

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Rocio Concha, Which? director of coverage and advocacy, mentioned: “Our analysis reveals shopper confidence in the way forward for the UK financial system has dropped alarmingly over the past yr.

“The federal government has rightly centered on rising the financial system and elevating dwelling requirements however in doing so, it should not overlook the significance of shopper protections in restoring confidence.

“Individuals are sick to the tooth of getting to dodge fraudsters when purchasing on-line, watching out for rogue merchants when making house enhancements and needing to maintain a watch out for dodgy pricing practices which imply that gives aren’t nearly as good as they first seem.

“The appropriate shopper protections give individuals the arrogance to spend and the federal government should place these protections on the coronary heart of its plans to develop the financial system.”