UK consumer confidence slipped back in February, suggesting households are not ready to splash out despite growing signs that the economy has emerged from its shallow recession. GfK said its key sentiment indicator dropped 2 percentage points to minus 21, ending a three-month run of improvements. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg had expected a reading of minus 18 on average. Client Strategy Director Joe Staton described the findings as a “mixture of bad news and good news.” Most measures fell on the month — including a gauge of willingness to make major purchases — but households remained relatively upbeat about ... (full story)