Confidence boost

CONSUMER confidence has risen at the fastest rate for a year as households become more optimistic about the outlook for Britain.

Following a survey of more than 6,000 adults, polling group YouGov said its consumer confidence index rose from 107.1 in December to 108.2 in January. the increase was the biggest since January last year and added to a flurry of positive economic data from the UK at the start of 2018.

Official figures last week showed the economy picked up pace at the end of last year, growing by a betterthan-expected 0.5pc in the fourth quarter.