​​​​​​Consumer confidence down two points in March​

Expectations of further sharp price rises are driving a ripple of fear among consumers

London, March 27^th, 2026 - GfK's long-running Consumer Confidence Index was down two points to -21 in March. Three measures were down, one was up and one was flat, compared to last month's announcement. These are the current findings of the GfK Consumer Confidence Barometer (CCB) powered by NIM. The CCB has been published jointly by GfK and the Nuremberg Institute for Market Decisions (NIM), the founder of GfK, since October 2023.

Neil Bellamy, Consumer Insights Director at GfK, an NIQ Company, says: "A ripple of fear is spreading as is evident from the six-point fall in perceptions of the General Economic Situation over the next 12 months, and also in the four-point drop in the Major Purchase Index. People simply do not feel the economy is robust enough to ride out the knock-on effects from the Middle East conflict. Moreover, the decline in purchasing intentions, coupled with a six-point rise in the Savings Index, indicates people are holding on to their money and avoiding making major purchases while they wait to see what the medium-term impact of the conflict will be. There are two major concerns for the future. First, the UK will need to adopt a careful and balanced response to the wider volatility we have seen since the end of February. Second, with growing concerns over further sharp price rises in the coming months, unless there's a swift resolution to the conflict, or government schemes such as additional support with energy bills come into fruition, this ripple of fear we are seeing in the March data has the danger of turning into a flood."

GfK Consumer Confidence Barometer powered by NIM - UK Measures - March 2026
The Overall Index Score dropped by two points to -21 in March. Three measures were down, one was up and one was flat, compared to last month's announcement.

Personal Financial Situation

The index measuring changes in personal finances over the last 12 months is unchanged at -7. This is two points better than March 2025.

The forecast for personal finances over the next year is down one point to 1. This is the same score as last year.

General Economic Situation

The measure for the country's general economic situation over the last 12 months increased by one point to -43. This is one point less than a year ago.

Expectations for the general economic situation over the next 12 months have slumped six points to -37. This is eight points worse than March last year.

Major Purchase Index

The Major Purchase Index decreased by four points to -18, which is one point worse than March last year.

Savings Index

The Savings Index increased six points to 27; this is two points better than last year. This measure is commented on but not included in the Overall Index Score.

About the survey

Press Contact
For further details or an interview, please contact Greenfields Communications:

• The data in the GfK Consumer Confidence Barometer (CCB), powered by NIM, is collected by GfK. The CCB has been published jointly by GfK and the Nuremberg Institute for Market Decisions (NIM), the founder of GfK, since October 2023.
• This month's survey was conducted among a sample of 2,001 individuals aged 16+ in the UK.
• Quotas are imposed on age, sex, region, and social class to ensure the final sample is representative of the UK population.
• Interviewing was conducted between March 2^nd and March 16^th 2026.
• The figures in the GfK CCB powered by NIM have an estimated margin of error of +/-2%.
• The Overall Index Score is calculated using underlying data that runs to two decimal points.
• The press release dates for the remaining months of 2026 (all dates fall on a Friday) are: April 24th, May 22^nd, June 19^th, July 24^th, August 21^st, September 25^th, October 23^rd, November 20^th and December 18^th.
• Any published material must include a reference to the GfK Consumer Confidence Barometer, e.g. 'Source: GfK Consumer Confidence Barometer powered by NIM'.
• This study has been running since 1974. Back data is available from 2006.
• The table below is an overview of the questions asked to obtain the individual index measures:

About the GfK Consumer Confidence Barometer powered by NIM

There is no other consumer research project with the longevity, rigor, and reliability of GfK's Consumer Confidence Barometer (CCB). Each month since January 1974, it has provided a snapshot of how UK consumers feel about the crucial economic topics today and their outlook for the next 12 months. It has provided insight into the UK's thinking through boom and bust, the Brexit vote, and most recently the coronavirus pandemic. The CCB data collected by GfK has been published jointly with the Nuremberg Institute for Market Decisions (NIM) since October 2023. NIM is the founder of GfK.

About NIQ

NielsenIQ (NYSE: NIQ) is a leading consumer intelligence company, delivering the most complete and trusted understanding of consumer buying behavior and revealing new pathways to growth. By combining an unmatched global data footprint and granular consumer and retail measurement with decades of AI modeling expertise, NIQ builds decision systems that help companies turn complex data into confident action.

With operations in more than 90 countries, NIQ covers approximately 82% of the world's population and more than $7.4 trillion in global consumer spend. Through cloud-based platforms, advanced analytics and AI-driven insights, NIQ delivers The Full View™-helping brands and retailers understand what consumers buy, why they buy it, and what to do next.

For more information, please visit https://www.niq.com.

About GfK - a NielsenIQ company

For over 90 years, we have earned the trust of our clients around the world by solving critical questions in their decision-making process. We fuel their growth by providing a complete understanding of their consumers' buying behavior, and the dynamics impacting their markets, brands and media trends. In 2023, GfK combined with NIQ, bringing together two industry leaders with unparalleled global reach. With a holistic retail read and the most comprehensive consumer insights - delivered with advanced analytics through state-of-the-art platforms - GfK drives "Growth from Knowledge". For more information, visit nielseniq.com

About NIM

The Nuremberg Institute for Market Decisions (NIM) is a non-profit research institute at the interface of academia and practice. NIM examines how consumer decisions change due to new technology, societal trends or the application of behavioral science, and what the resulting micro- and macroeconomic impacts are for the market and society as a whole. A better understanding of consumer decisions and their impacts helps society, businesses, politics, and consumers make better decisions with regard to "prosperity for all" in the sense of the social-ecological market system. The Nuremberg Institute for Market Decisions is the founder of GfK. For more information, visit https://www.nim.org/en and LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer

This press release includes forward-looking statements that reflect NIQ's current expectations and projections about future market trends and consumer behavior. These statements are based on available information and reasonable assumptions but are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ. NIQ does not undertake to update these statements, except as required by law.

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Marketing, GfK
Anna Paszek-Weglarz
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110 Southwark Street London SE1 0SU [email protected]