Consumer confidence dropped once more in April, as the general public anxiety over personal finances increased.

April was the 28th consecutive month without an overall positive index score. The last positive score was in January 2016.

Overall, consumer confidence came in at -9 for April, with four of five measures decreasing and the remaining measure increasing.

GfK consumer confidence client strategy director Joe Staton said: “Hope springs eternal for better numbers, but the continued uncertain economic forecast means that the sun is not yet shining brightly for UK consumers.

“As consumers, we need to see clear evidence with our own eyes – in our bank balances and pay packets – that balmier economic climes have returned. Yet our view of the UK’s general economic situation remains low.

“More worryingly, there is a steep decline this month in the numbers concerning our personal financial situation – for both the past 12 months and the year ahead.

“This is the measure relating to security in our day-to-day finances and propensity to shop, spend and plan for their future.

“There’s little evidence of optimism in that respect. Consumer confidence is stuck in the doldrums.”

Individual measures

The personal financial situation index over the past 12 months was -1, down from 3 in March and 1 in April 2017.

The personal financial situation index over the next 12 months was 4, down from 10 last month but up from 2 in April 2017.

The general economic situation index over the past 12 months was -29, down from -26 in March and down from -23 in April last year.

The general economic situation index over the next 12 months was also down, at -24. In March it stood at -22 and in April 2017 it was at -21.

The major purchase index however nudged up, standing at 3, up from 2 in March, but down from 7 for the same month of the previous year.

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