Consumer confidence hits rock-bottom

Job worries, fuel prices and intense pressure on budgets has seen UK consumer confidence hit rock-bottom. Nationwide's Consumer Confidence Index claims confidence was hammered for the fifth consecutive month, hitting 36 points in October.

To put that in context, the long-running average is 78 points. There's little optimism for the future: just 13% of those questioned think the UK economy will pick up in the next six months.