Consumer confidence edged up in September and now stands at its highest level since June last year.

GfK’s UK Consumer Confidence Index edged up one point to -28.

GfK managing director of social research Nick Moon said: “Following the much-anticipated but ultimately unseen lift from the Jubilee and Olympics, even a one point increase in the Index, will offer some grounds for optimism to the Government after such a stagnant summer.

“However, we will have to wait for next month’s figures to see if there has been a real change in public mood and people are beginning to feel more secure economically just in time for Christmas or whether this is just an end-of-summer blip.”

Two of the five measures GfK researches with consumers had an increase this month – personal financial situation over the next 12 months and the general economic situation over the past year – while the other measures remained static.