Consumer confidence has slowly improved in September, according to GfK’s Consumer Confidence Index, which increased by one point to minus 13. This marks the first time since the summer of 2024 that the index has seen three consecutive monthly gains, continuing a gradual recovery that began in April. While the index is still in negative territory—meaning consumers remain more pessimistic than optimistic—it shows a slight upward trend. The biggest improvements came from how people view the overall economy and their personal finances over the past year. The economy’s performance saw a four-point increase to minus 36, while personal finances improved by three points to minus three. Looking ahead, expectations for the general economy over the next 12 months rose by one point to minus 22, which is significantly better than the same period in the previous year. Similarly, confidence in personal finances for the coming year increased by one point to five, showing a more positive outlook. However, not all areas saw improvement. The major purchase index, which reflects confidence in buying big-ticket items like cars or homes, fell by one point to minus 8. Despite this decline, it is still eight points higher than it was a year ago, suggesting some level of optimism remains in consumer spending on large purchases. Neil Bellamy, consumer insights director at GfK, noted that the savings index rose five points, indicating that some people may be preparing for uncertain times by building up financial reserves. However, he also pointed out that rising inflation is beginning to affect consumer sentiment, eroding one of the main positives from earlier in the year. Although the overall index is improving, confidence remains in negative territory. With ongoing concerns about rising inflation, energy, and fuel prices, there is a risk that consumer sentiment could weaken again in the near future.