Confidence among British consumer surged to its highest level in more than three years in July, a report from GfK NOP revealed Wednesday.
The consumer sentiment index based on a survey by GfK rose to -16 in July from -21 in June. The score was the highest since April 2010.
"There is now no doubt that consumer confidence has recovered strongly from the unparalleled trough of the last five years," said Nick Moon, managing director of social research at GfK.
"It is the longer-term changes that mean far more than one single month's figures, and the current trend is definitely upwards," Moon said.
The survey was conducted between July 2 and 21, a few days before the gross domestic product figures were released, which showed that the economic momentum has doubled in the second quarter.
The GDP expanded 0.6 percent quarter-on-quarter in the second quarter, faster than the 0.3 percent growth in the first quarter, the Office for National Statistics said on July 25.
The indicator that gauges peoples' outlook of the general economic situation in the next 12 months rose 7 points from a month earlier to -9. A measure of Britons' expectations on the their own personal finances in the next 12 months also rose 7 points to zero.
The measure of consumers' view of the country's general economic situation in the past 12 months increased 7 points to -35, while the gauge of their own finances increased by 5 points to -16.
Meanwhile, the indicator of consumers' willingness to purchase big-ticket items dropped 1 point to -21.
A number indicators and the results of private surveys released this month support the view that the economic recovery is on a firm footing.
Official data earlier this month revealed that the number of Britons claiming job seekers' allowance recorded the steepest decline in three years in June.
British retailers expect sales volumes to rise again in the year through August on the back continued good weather and discounts, according to a recent survey by the Confederation of British Industry.
Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund said in mid July that though progress have been made in reducing fiscal risks and ensuring the sustainability of public debt, the economic recovery in the UK continues to be slow and fragile.
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