CONSUMER confidence has fallen to its lowest level for nearly three years as people continue to feel pessimistic about the economy, figures suggested.

Research firm GfK NOP said its confidence index had fallen by one point to minus nine in December, its lowest level since March 2003, and well down on the minus three it was standing at in December last year.

Carol Bernasconi, divisional director at GfK NOP, said: "Consumer confidence is not yet showing signs of an upturn."

and a year which has seen an unprecedented level of natural disasters across the world has left this nation in a subdued mood."

Perception of the general economic situation during the past year remained the same in December at minus 29 - nine points lower than during the same month of 2004.

They were only slightly more confident about prospects for the economy at minus 20, according to the research which was carried out for the European Commission.

Consumers' attitude towards their personal financial situation during the past 12 months remained unchanged but they became slightly less optimistic about their outlook for the coming year.

During December there was a three-point fall in the number who thought it was a good time to make a major purchase but this had only a marginal impact on savings levels, which rose by one point.

:: GfK NOP questioned 2,109 people between November 30 and December 19.