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Iran war weighs heavily on UK consumer sentiment
By Abigail Townsend
Date: Wednesday 22 Apr 2026
(Sharecast News) - UK consumer confidence remained under pressure in April, a survey showed on Thursday, as war in the Middle East continued to weigh heavily.
According to the latest BRC-Opinium consumer sentiment data, expectations for the state of the economy over the next three months remained at -53, unchanged on March and the lowest on record.
Expectations for households' personal financial situation weakened, meanwhile, falling four points to -21.
Overall spending ticked up two points to 15, while personal saving was unchanged at -8.
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: "The Middle East conflict continues to stoke consumer anxiety around inflation and the cost of living. Amid a volatile geopolitical situation, households are expecting to see their pay packets squeezed by rising petrol, domestic energy and food prices.
"Expected retail spending rose, but this was driven entirely by grocery spend.
"The longer the volatility drags on, the more uncertainty it creates in the economy."
Energy prices have soared in the wake of the US-Iran war, with refineries in the region either damaged or shuttered and the vital Strait of Hormuz too dangerous to pass. On Wednesday, the Office for National Statistics showed inflation had accelerated to 3.3% in March, driven primarily by a spike in fuel prices as well as higher food costs. Producer prices data, meanwhile, showed a spike in both raw material and factory gate prices.
A sample of 2,000 UK adults were surveyed for the consumer sentiment monitor between 7 and 10 April.
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