London: British consumer confidence jumped the most in 18 years in May as Britons became less pessimistic about their finances and the economy, a report by GfK NOP showed.

London: British consumer confidence plunged the most since 1994 this month as an increase in sales tax hurt shoppers’ appetite for spending, a report by GfK NOP showed.

A gloomy consumer confidence survey and bad news from Asian markets served to pull the FTSE 100 Index downwards today.

British consumers became increasingly pessimistic about the state of the economy and their own finances during December, research suggested today.

Consumer confidence in the UK has plunged to its second lowest level on record, with a marked drop among young people, researchers said today.

More than half of people claim they would boycott a financial services firm if it was operating in an unethical manner, research in the UK showed today.

The Bank of England is expected to frustrate households this week by leaving interest rates unchanged at 5% for another month.

Inflation fears deterred British economic policymakers from a second rate cut in as many months today.

The FTSE 100 Index soared above the 6400 barrier today as the market notched its biggest weekly gain since before the summer's credit crunch.

Nearly half of small and medium-sized British firms believe changes to capital gains tax (CGT) will have a negative impact on their business, a survey said today.

Ingredients and sugar group Tate & Lyle led a downbeat close to the week for the London market after a disappointing trading update saw the stock hit a three-year low.

Tate & Lyle caused its shares to tumble today after it warned its sugar division would post a small first-half loss.

One in three elderly people in the North believe life is getting worse, a startling new report revealed today.

Sterling strengthened against the dollar today after an upbeat survey on British retail sales fuelled expectations of more interest rate hikes in the UK.

Sterling strengthened against the dollar today after an upbeat survey on retail sales fuelled expectations of more interest rate hikes.

The mood of British households brightened during April as consumer confidence lifted to its highest point in six months, figures revealed.