British consumer confidence returned to a two-year high this month as households took a more positive view of the economy and their own finances, a long-term survey showed. Consumer confidence rose to -19 in April from -21 in March, unchanged from January’s reading and the highest level since January 2022, just before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine triggered a spike in energy costs and other expenses . Economists had forecast a slightly smaller increase of -20. A year ago, the index was -30.
The inflation rate fell to a two-and-a-half-year low of 3.2% in March, the British minimum wage increased by nearly 10% in April, and employees’ national insurance contributions fell by 2 percentage points. Finance secretary Jeremy Hunt said he wanted further tax cuts if there was room in public finances ahead of an election expected by Chancellor Rishi Sunak later this year.
