Consumer confidence dropped two points to -20 in September, according to GfK NOP’s Consumer Confidence Index.

The fall this month comes after a rise in August, when the Index increased for the first time since February, to -18.

GfK NOP Social Research managing director Nick Moon called the August climb a “false dawn”.

He said: “September’s slump suggests the rise in consumer confidence in August was a false dawn, as feared.”

Consumers are more worried about their personal finances than last month, with the Index showing a drop of 2 points to -14.

Consumers are also feeling more negative about the general economic situation, with the Index dropping 3 points to -46, compared with last month.

The major purchase index was the only measure to increase this month, by 5 points to -15.

Moon added: “Besides the trough in July, probably caused by the emergency Budget, this month’s figure is the lowest confidence has been for the past year. I think we could be about to find out if the money markets are more worried about double dip recession than they are about the size of the UK deficit.”