Black Friday optimism

Consumer confidence increased marginally in October as shoppers look to the Black Friday sales event-despite nervousness around the upcoming Budget, figures show.

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GfK's long-running Consumer Confidence Index increased by two points - although it still languishes at minus 17. The increase was largely driven by a four-point rise in the index's major purchase marker, an indicator of confidence in buying big-ticket items, to minus 12-a nine-point improvement on last October.