UK consumer confidence plunges to lowest level since 2022 amid global and domestic pressures

Consumer confidence in the UK has decreased to its lowest level since the peak cost of the living crisis in December 2022, where families feel the pressure of the new Donald Trump tariff, the ongoing war in Ukraine, an increase in local taxes and increased prices, according to new data?

The last confidence tracker in the consumer group has decreased by seven points to -53, which reflects widespread concern about both the economy and personal finance. Nearly two -thirds of consumers (64 %) believes that the British economy will deteriorate during the next year, while only 11 % are optimistic that it will improve.

The data reflects other warnings about the high anxiety among British families. According to GFK, April brought a “ideal storm” of pressure including the higher facilities bills, council tax, road tax, and stamping, which is doubled by global instability and new interests on inflation’s recovery due to Trump’s commercial policies.

The poll, conducted in the month until April 11, found that 67 % of people blamed their pessimism in global events such as Russia’s war, Krin and the mutual definitions of Trump, while 63 % indicated that prices have increased, and 60 % indicated tax changes.

Home financial expectations also deteriorated sharply, with a decrease in confidence in financial affairs for future living families by 10 points to -9 -the lowest level since July 2023. confidence in current financial affairs has decreased by six points to +21.

Almost 1.9 million families missed at least one basic boost in April, including rental payments, mortgage, utilities, or loan payment. The rate of missed lease payments increased to 4.7 %, reflecting the continued pressure on the tenants.

An estimated 13 million families (46 %) have been forced to make at least one financial amendment last month to cover basic costs such as energy, housing, grocery, school supplies or medicines. These modifications included reducing the basics, dipping in savings, selling property, or taking debts. While improving a little from 51 % in March, the number remains high.

Rocio Koncha, director of politics and advocacy that? The government is to take measures to restore confidence and consumer shield from predators.

“Consumer protection gives people confidence in spending,” she said. “Whether it is rooted from online fraudsters, underlining rogue traders or addressing misleading commercial practices, the government must do more to put consumers at the heart of its plans to develop the economy.”

With Trump’s tariff threatening to raise prices on imported goods and disrupt global supply chains, analysts fear that the current segment of confidence may increase bad. The International Monetary Fund has already reduced UK growth forecast for 2025, and budget responsibility office warned of tens of billions of missing production if global trade tensions escalate.

With millions of British families staying on narrow budgets, the path to economic recovery may depend on rebuilding consumer confidence as is the case in taming inflation or strengthening GDP. Currently, expectations remain mysterious because of both international innovation and local policy decisions.