UPDATE: UK Data Forecasts: Aug GfK Consumer Sentiment

By Jamie Satchithanantham

     LONDON (MNI) - July saw the GfK UK Consumer Sentiment Index fall back to a

low last seen in the immediate aftermath of the EU referendum, with consumers,

in particular, less optimistic about the economic outlook and less inclined to

make a major purchase.

     A month later, and a material change does not seem on the cards as eroding

real wages and an ongoing, uncertain economic and political outlook have

continued to weigh heavy on consumers.

     The median of analysts' forecasts suggests consumer confidence was broadly

unchanged in August, with the index expected to hold firm at -12.

     Of the nine analysts polled thus far, a third expect the index to

deteriorate to some extent while another third expect consumer conditions to

have improved; the analyst forecasts range from -10 to -14.  

-----------------------------

                          Aug

                          GfK

                     Consumer

                    Sentiment

Date Out               31-Aug

Median                 -12.00

Forecast High           -10.0

Forecast Low            -14.0

Standard Deviation        1.4

Count                       9

Prior                   -12.0

Barclays                -13.0

Berenberg               -12.0

Capital Economics       -12.0

Investec                -10.0

JP Morgan               -13.0

Lloyds TSB              -11.0

Oxford Economics        -12.0

Pantheon                -10.0

Societe Generale        -14.0

--MNI London Bureau; +44 203-586-2226; email: jamie.satchithanantham@marketnews.com

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