Shopper sentiment improved for a third month in a row, according to the latest figures from BRC-Opinium data.

Its poll over over 2,000 UK adults showed that consumer confidence about the state of the economy increased by +2 index points in February, up from -32 in January.

Shoppers’ assessments of their personal financial situation also improved, rising from -8 in January to -6 in February, while expectations on spending rose by +1 index point to +6 last month.

Confidence uplift encouraging but fragile

“Consumer confidence improved for a third straight month, hitting its highest level since last June,” said Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium (BRC).

However she warned that while spending expectations edged up, overall retail demand remained “weak by historical standards.”

“This lift in confidence is encouraging, but fragile,” she added, pointing to slow growth and rising unemployment, which still “weighs heavily” on the economy.

Green shoots of recovery

The BRC-Opinium data follows encouraging signs of a footfall recovery, with store visits in January recording a five month high after a ‘drab December’ saw subdued shopper traffic.

“January offered a welcome reset for UK retail, with footfall recording its best performance in five months,” commented Andy Sumpter, Retail Consultant EMEA for Sensormatic, who partner with the BRC on its Footfall Monitor data.

“Shopper traffic remained in negative territory, but the dial moved in the right direction, marking a clear improvement on December and the wider Golden Quarter,” Sumpter added.