Finance

UK consumer spending and confidence is muted, says Currys boss

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on December 18, 2025

1 min read

· Last updated: January 20, 2026

Add as preferred source on Google
UK consumer spending and confidence is muted, says Currys boss
Global Banking & Finance Awards 2026 — Call for Entries

LONDON, Dec 18 (Reuters) - British consumer confidence and spending is muted heading into Christmas and the government's budget last month did little to help, the boss of electricals retailer Currys

UK Consumer Confidence and Spending Remain Low, Says Currys

LONDON, ‌Dec 18 (Reuters) - British consumer confidence ‍and ‌spending is muted heading into Christmas ⁠and the ‌government's budget last month did little to help, the boss of electricals ⁠retailer Currys said on Thursday.

"What we're concerned ​about is consumers' already ‌high tax burden ⁠has increased further (in the budget) and that will weigh down on ​already muted consumer confidence and spending in the UK," CEO Alex Baldock told reporters after ​Currys ‍reported first ​half results.

He said Currys was planning for little change to the subdued consumer environment in 2026.

"We're not counting on any improvement in ⁠the UK consumer outlook, confidence or spending, looking ​forward," he said.

But he said he was confident Currys could still grow profit despite ‌the tough macro backdrop.

(Reporting by James Davey; Editing by Kate Holton)

Key Takeaways

  • UK consumer confidence and spending are muted.
  • Currys CEO highlights concerns over high tax burdens.
  • The recent UK budget did little to improve consumer outlook.
  • Currys plans for a subdued consumer environment in 2026.
  • Currys aims to grow profit despite economic challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is consumer confidence?
Consumer confidence is a measure of how optimistic or pessimistic consumers are regarding their expected financial situation and the overall economic environment. It influences their spending and saving behaviors.

Tags

Related Articles

More from Finance

Explore more articles in the Finance category