Business
Consumer confidence improves but remains subdued ahead of Christmas
Consumer confidence edged up ahead of Christmas but remains subdued in the face of cost-of-living pressures, according to new figures.
GfK’s long-running Consumer Confidence Index improved by two points to minus 17 for December.
The research showed that all five of the survey’s measures increased for the month, bouncing back from a weak November which had been impacted by pre-Budget caution.
Neil Bellamy, consumer insights director at GfK, said: “It’s tempting to see festive cheer in December’s two-point improvement in consumer confidence.
“This is a surprise finding for the UK high street because it contrasts with the Black Friday sales slump we reported on earlier this month.”
Industry data pointed to weakness on the high street earlier in the run-up to Christmas, the data from the CBI showing the sharpest fall in sentiment among retailers for 17 years.
The GfK figures showed a four-point improvement in its major purchase index – an indicator of confidence in buying big ticket items – to minus 11.
Measures related to shoppers’ views about the wider economic outlook also improved slightly for the month.
Mr Bellamy said: “UK households still face cost-of-living pressures, despite the recent softening in inflation, along with rising economic uncertainty, and those conditions result in weaker consumer confidence.
“Sadly, consumers resemble a family on a festive winter hike, crossing a boggy field – plodding along stoically, getting stuck in the mud and hoping that easier conditions are not far off.”
President Donald Trump said he’s considering sending the National Guard to U.S. airports, two days after the administration deployed Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to several major U.S. airports following hourslong waits for travelers because of the partial government shutdown.
In a Truth Social post Wednesday, Trump blamed Democrats for the shutdown, which began Feb. 14.
“Thank you to our great ICE Patriots for helping. It makes a big difference,” he wrote in his post. “I may call up the National Guard for more help.”
Travelers wait in line at a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in Atlanta, Georgia, US, on Monday, March 23, 2026.
Elijah Nouvelage | Bloomberg | Getty Images
More than 11% of TSA officers called out on Wednesday and over 450 have quit since the shutdown started, the Department of Homeland Security said.
Elevated absences of Transportation Security Administration officers, who are required to work though they’re not getting paid during the shutdown, have contributed to long lines at major U.S. airports, including in Atlanta, Houston and New York.
The DHS, which oversees both ICE and and the TSA, said the ICE agents will “support airports facing the greatest strain” but the department didn’t respond to requests for comment on what the ICE agents’ duties are. ICE agents are getting paid in the shutdown.
Airlines have been warning customers about potentially long security lines, while executives grow increasingly frustrated with lawmakers about the impasse. On Tuesday, Delta Air Lines said it suspended its airport escorts and other special services for members of Congress and their staff because of the ongoing partial shutdown of the DHS.
The shutdown comes as Democrats in Congress have demanded changes to how federal immigration enforcement operates in exchange for releasing DHS funding after two U.S. citizens were shot and killed by ICE officers in Minneapolis.
Low-income families are being offered help with the cost of food during the Easter holidays.
Source link
new video loaded: What Soaring Fuel Costs Mean for Your Air Travel
By Niraj Chokshi, Léo Hamelin, Stephanie Swart, Rebecca Suner and Lauren Pruitt
March 25, 2026
Messi to Dowman: Who’s the world’s best player at every age?
Trump says he could send National Guard to airports ‘for more help’
OpenClaw Agents Can Be Guilt-Tripped Into Self-Sabotage
-
Fashion1 week agoSales at US apparel, clothing accessories stores up 4% YoY in Jan 2026
-
Tech1 week agoJustice Department Says Anthropic Can’t Be Trusted With Warfighting Systems
-
Business1 week agoStocks and pound rise as US rate call approaches
-
Entertainment7 days agoVal Kilmer revived 1 year after death through AI
-
Sports1 week agoMarch Madness 2026 – How to watch in SA, start time, schedule, TV channel for NCAA championship basketball tournament
-
Business1 week agoBrits cashing in jewellery as gold price hits record high
-
Entertainment1 week agoWith few new leads 45 days after Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, investigation “becomes much harder,” expert says
-
Politics1 week agoIran strikes Tel Aviv with cluster-warhead missiles in retaliation of Larijani’s martyrdom