Consumer confidence edged up in September to its highest level since June 2011, providing “grounds for optimism” on the economy, according to leading market research agency GfK NOP.

Nick Moon, managing director of social research at GfK NOP, said,
"Small though this month's rise is, the Index is now higher than at any time since June last year, which the Government and retailers will hope means that we could be seeing the start of an uplifting autumn."

However, GfK said there would need to be more than one month’s positive data to be sure of any lasting improvement in consumer morale.



Moon added,
"We will have to wait for next month's figures to see if there has been a real change in public mood and people are beginning to feel more secure economically just in time for Christmas, or whether this is just an end-of-summer blip."