Consumers are nervously awaiting the budget, reports data provider GfK, wiping out recent recovery in confidence.   08:19 Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, says the government is taking “tough decisions” to fix the public finances.

A long-running measure of consumer confidence has shown a significant drop in September, after warnings by the new government about the state of the public finances and a “painful” Autumn Budget to come.

Starmer insists he is setting out reality of ‘badly damaged economy’ as GfK survey shows sharp fall in household morale

Consumer confidence falls sharply as households ‘nervously’ await Budget - GfK’s Consumer Confidence Index fell seven points to minus 20, with significant drops in predictions for personal finances and the general economy.