age, with outright homeowners at their highest confidence since June and mortgage payers at their highest since March. The details were mixed, too: views of personal finances over the next 12 months slipped a touch, while expectations for the economy over the next year and the next five years improved.
Put it together and the picture is a stabilization from a low base, not a full rebound. And with inflation expectations rising to 6.1%, the cost of living still looks like the main factor shaping how upbeat households are willing to feel.
Why should I care?
For you: A 77.5 confidence reading can shift when you replace the fridge, even if prices still feel like 6.1% inflation.
Mortgage holders tend to be the most sensitive to day-to-day cash flow because repayments are often the biggest fixed bill in the household budget. So when that group feels steadier, it usually shows up first in “lumpy” decisions like replacing an appliance, fixing a car, or buying furniture – exactly what the “time to buy a major household item” jump hints at.
But higher inflation expectations can pull the other way. If people think prices will keep rising, they can become more selective: delaying upgrades, choosing cheaper brands, or waiting for promotions even when they do go ahead with a purchase. That combination often means households change how they time big-ticket spending before they feel any real relief on the overall cost of living.
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