British consumers have turned more pessimistic in the face of rising interest rates and high inflation, according to a survey published on Friday which ended a five-month streak of growing confidence levels. Market research firm GfK's headline gauge of consumer confidence fell to -30 this month from -24 in June, the first decline since January, and below the -26 forecast in a Reuters poll of economists. "Reality has started to bite and, as people continue to struggle to make ends meet, consumers will pull back from spending," Joe Staton, GfK's client strategy director said. The fall was the biggest ... (full story)