UK consumers in ‘a despondent mood’ ahead of the budget, as confidence dips – business live

Introduction: UK consumer confidence weaken ahead of Budget

Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of business, the financial markets and the world economy.

UK consumers are in a “despondent mood” ahead as households brace for tax rises in the Budget next week, amid fears that Britain could be entering a “vibecession”.

Research firm GfK’s monthly survey of consumer morale shows confidence has slipped this month, to -21 points, the joint lowest this year.

It found that households are gloomier about the general economic situation of the country during the last 12 months, and also over the next year.

Illustration: GfK

Neil Bellamy, consumer insights director at GfK, reckons consumers are ‘holding their breath” ahead of next Wednesday’s budget statement, explaining:

“Consumer confidence fell one point this month to -21, taking the score back down to the level last seen in March this year. Also falling one point are both personal financial situation over the last 12 months and general economic situation over the next 12 months.

The largest drop though was in our view of the general economic situation over the last 12 months, down five points to -42. On the plus side, the major purchase index rose two points and future personal financial expectations by one point. As the Budget statement looms, consumers are in a despondent mood despite a fall in the headline rate of inflation. This month’s Consumer Confidence Barometer paints a picture of people holding their breath to see what’s in store for them on 30th October.”

A chart showing GfK consumer confidence Illustration: GfK

Although Labour ruled out increasing taxes on “working people”, various revenue-raising measures could be in the chancellor’s sights, such as capital gains tax (CGT), inheritance tax, employer national insurance contributions, and fuel duty.

A similar poll from PwC yesterday showed the same picture. Its consumer sentiment index dropped to the lowest level in 2024, led by “notable declines” among those over 65 and the lowest socioeconomic groups.

Over 70% of people polled by PwC are planning to make short-term spending cutbacks, and more households plan to spend less on Christmas presents and celebrations than those who say they’ll spend more.

The drop in confidence comes despite the easing of cost of living pressures recently, with inflation dropping to 1.7% last month.

Lisa Hooker, PwC’s leader of industry for Consumer Markets, says:

“Being first recognised in the US, we are seeing the impact of ‘vibecession’ in the UK where, despite falling inflation and interest rates and consumers being better off, sentiment has started to fall again.

Whether the starting point was the unrest across the UK in early August, the unseasonably awful summer weather or a combination of several factors, the typical post-election honeymoon vanished quickly, to be replaced by trepidation, particularly about the upcoming budget.”

The mood isn’t much cheerier in the business world, either.

Yesterday, the CBI reported that sentiment across the manufacturing sector fell in October, at the fastest pace in two years.

According to data provider S&P Global, confidence across the private sector has dipped to its lowest since November 2023.

The agenda

9am BST: Eurozone consumer inflation expectations
9am BST: IFO survey of German business confidence
11.30am BST: Bank of Russia sets interest rates
1.30pm BST: US durable goods orders for September
3pm BST: University of Michigan poll of US consumer confidence

Updated at 07.41 BST

Key events

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Rachel Reeves’s plans to shake up the UK’s fiscal rules to allow more borrowing for investment are not rocking the bond market today.

The prices, and thus the yields, on UK government debt are basically unchanged this morning.

There was a small rise in yields yesterday, as traders anticipated higher borrowing, but that wasn’t a major move either.

ShareNatWest shares highest since 2015 after rise in profits

NatWest has rounded off the UK bank reporting season by beating City expectations, sending its shares to their highest level in almost a decade.

NatWest reported a 26% rise in pre-tax operating profits for the third quarter of the year to nearly £1.7bn, up from £1.3bn.

Chief executive Paul Thwaite says that customer activity is increasing, while defaults remaining low:

As the UK’s biggest bank for business, and one that serves millions of households, NatWest Group plays a key role in driving economic growth across the UK.

Throughout the third quarter of 2024, we have grown our lending, helping customers to buy or remortgage their homes or to start and grow their businesses.

NatWest has bumped up its forecasts, now predicting a return on tangible equity greater than 15% this year, up from a previous forecast of 14%.

Shares have jumped over 4%, trading as high as 378.9p, the highest since 2015.

They’re still a long way below their pre-financial crisis levels, though, when the company was known as Royal Bank of Scotland, and was bailed out by the taxpayer.

A chart showing NatWest’s share price over the last 20 years Photograph: LSEGShare

Updated at 08.37 BST

Minister defends fiscal rule changes after Persnuffle kerfuffle

Government ministers are out defending Rachel Reeves’s plan to change the measure used for Britain’s debt target, to allow billions of pounds more borrowing within the fiscal rules.

As we covered yesterday, the chancellor confirmed that next week’s budget will include a new method for assessing the UK’s debt position, during her visit to the International Monetary Fund’s Annual Meeting.

Reeves didn’t confirm what the new measure would be, but the Guardian has been told by a senior government source that she will target public sector net financial liabilities (PSNFL), a measure which recognises the value of investing in assets.

Yesterday’s announcement sparked a row (dubbed the ‘persnuffle’ kerfuffle by the Independent), with former chancellor Jeremy Hunt claiming extra borrowing could push up borrowing costs, hurting households with mortgages.

This morning, Treasury secretary James Murray has insisted that Reeves’s plan was in line with Labour’s manifesto promises, and would lead to more investment.

Murray told Times Radio:

“What the Chancellor was setting out is what we pledged to do in our manifesto around fiscal rules.”

He added:

What the Chancellor has said is the second of her fiscal rules, the investment rule, will make sure that we measure debt differently to recognise the value of assets, not just the cost of investment.

“Because what’s crucial is that we have investment in this country that will underpin greater growth in the years ahead.”

Thames Water’s bonds are rising in early trading, after it announced a proposal to extend its liquidity runway.

However, prices remain low – reflecting the fact that Thames credit rating is at junk levels.

Reuters has the details:

The company’s April 2027 euro-denominated bond rose 0.27 pence in price to 78.316 pence, the highest since Aug 21, on the Tradeweb platform.

Its May 2027 sterling-denominated bonds rose 0.279 pence to 13.474 pence on Tradeweb.

ShareThames Water proposes £3bn liquidity plan

Struggling utility Thames Water has announced plans for a £3bn financial lifeline to help it avoid collapse.

Thames told the City this morning that the proposal – to raise money from its creditors – would improve its “liquidity runway” until October 2025, with the possibility of a further extention to May 2026 if regulators agreed.

Under the plan, some of Thames’s creditors would provide an initial tranche of £1.5bn, with the possibility of another £1.5bn once Ofwat has made its “Final Determination”, laying out how much Thames can raise bills by.

In a boost for Thames, which is struggling under a £15bn debt pile, the plan would extend the maturities of all Class A Debt and Class B Debt by two years.

The company says that creditors representing around £6.7bn of its Secured Debt are backing the plan. It is seeking the support of more creditors, through a transaction support agreement announced this morning.

Yesterday, Reuters reported that a group of Thames creditors were proposing an alternative liquidity package to give the company more time to restructure its debts.

Last month, Thames admitted it could run out of cash as soon as December.

Today, the company say it is working hard to get onto a stable financial footing.

Sir Adrian Montague, Chairman of Thames Water said:

“The Board and leadership team remain focused on stabilising the business and today’s announcement is an important step in the process to increase its long-term financial resilience.

There will be further stages and we will continue to work collaboratively with our many stakeholders as we look to attract new equity into the business and seek a final determination that enables the delivery of our ambitious business plan for the next five years.”

Updated at 07.37 BST