Thinking Ahead: Your Leading-Edge Insights Podcast

UK Consumer Confidence Uncut March 2024

In this episode of Thinking Ahead, GfK’s Neil Bellamy and moderator Lucy Green discuss the March 2024 results. The overall Index score remained at -21 this month with no move from February. There was some positive news in the view of our personal finances in the next 12 months, which rose two points. However, the Major Purchase Index fell two points and the Savings Index declined by four points. The improvements in the overall Index seen most months last year have now vanished. Neil explains what these scores mean and the impact of the March 6th Budget on them. March’s Data Guru Corner focuses on sampling. Tune in!

 

January 2024 marks 50 years of the UK Consumer Confidence Barometer. There is no other consumer research project with the longevity, rigour and reliability. Get the report now >>

Consumer Outlook 2024: The Fundamentals & Sustainability

GfK Consumer Life is returning to explore what consumers feel, think, need, and ultimately expect from brands today. Drawing on rich, industry-standard trends data, experts from GfK Consumer Life will look at what’s driving consumers, and what your brand can do to connect now and succeed in 2024. 

In this episode, we'll talk about: 

• Focusing on the fundamentals - Getting back to brand basics 
• The sustainability boost - The circular economy gains momentum 

In part two, we'll talk all things tech & gen alpha! 

The rise of the UK’s second-hand mobile phone market

One-quarter of all UK mobile phones sales in 2023 were for second-hand or refurbished handsets 

Explore the dynamic shift in consumer behaviour within the UK mobile phone market in 2023, where a significant 25% of all mobile phones purchased were either second-hand or refurbished, up from the 19% in 2021. Join Lizzie Bailey and Chris Purnell, experts from GfK UK, as they unravel the intriguing statistics that underpin this trend.

In this episode of the Thinking Ahead podcast, we delve into the motivations behind the surge in used and refurbished phone acquisitions. Gain valuable insights into the demographics of those opting for pre-owned devices and discover the driving forces behind their choices. Is it solely influenced by price considerations, or are environmental concerns playing a role in shaping this shift? Tune in now to unravel the nuanced layers of this evolving consumer landscape.

If you want to find out more, click here to read our press release. 

UK Consumer Confidence Uncut February 2024

The Consumer Confidence Index took a knock in February, dropping two points to -21, with all but one of the measures that make up the topline score down. Our expert Neil Bellamy explains what’s happened and why the Personal Financial Situation metric remained at zero. In our regular feature, Data Guru Corner, he looks back over 50 years of data to evaluate how long it takes consumer sentiment to recover from a slump, and what this might suggest for a recovery this election year. 

Future of Mobility 2024

Discover the pulse of the automotive industry in our latest podcast episode, where we unpack the Future of Mobility report from GfK AutoMobility™. From electric vehicle demand to consumer preferences, we dive into key questions shaping the market.

Tune in as we explore brand resonance, EV adoption hurdles, and the future of autonomous vehicles. Gain actionable insights for your 2024 business strategies in just a few minutes. 

Living with Technology

The Living with Technology report explores how consumer tech sentiment, usage, and adoption have shifted and continue to evolve amid major disruptions.

In this episode, we sit down with GfK VP-CMI Veronica Chen to talk about the technology trends marketers should consider for the year ahead. 

The sudden acceleration of the digital lifestyle during COVID lockdowns sent the sales of electronics and adoption of streaming services soaring. Then purchases slowed as consumers re-entered the "real" world and prioritized experiences over possessions. And the introduction of ChatGPT last fall was met with both record-speed adoption and deep concerns.

UK Consumer Confidence Uncut January 2024

In this episode of Thinking Ahead, GfK’s Neil Bellamy and our moderator Lucy Green, discuss the January 2024 results of UK Consumer Confidence Barometer. With the main Index at -19%, UK consumers have started the year feeling positive. Neil explains what’s special about January and whether optimism is usual in the first month of the year. We focus on the Personal Financial Situation metric which reached zero after 24 consecutive months of negative scores. Delving into the results by income level tells a more nuanced story. In our regular feature, Data Guru Corner, Neil explains how the Index is composed, and why it is used to report confidence levels in the UK.   

CMO Outlook Series: Sustainability

Our CMO Outlook series does a deep dive on GfK's CMO Outlook report! The series covers several areas including sustainability, technology & AI, long-term brand building and more.

 

In this episode, we sit down with GfK's Managing Director, Consumer Insights to explore the sustainability realm of the report and how global marketers are setting the course for growth. 

 

600+ marketing leaders shared their take on the state of marketing today, as part of our CMO Outlook Survey — the largest global study of its kind. We’ve distilled their insights here to give you granular coverage into key opportunities, trends, and challenges shaping the landscape across multiple regions and industries.  To learn more about how CMOs are driving change in an evolving world, access the full report.

Green Gauge: Exploring Consumer Mindsets, EV Trends, and the Circular Economy

Tune in to this episode as we explore key areas of the latest GfK Green Gauge report by Consumer Life. Understand how environmental concerns influence consumer attitudes and buying behaviors so you can meet their new expectations.

How digital advertising helps build brand equity with Meta

Drawing on 17 cross-media campaigns across Europe, new research shows that digital advertising drives brand equity. Commissioned by Meta, GfK data reveals the different marketing channels that help with brand building efforts at every stage of the funnel. From brand awareness to brand favorability, join this session to see how marketers can optimize digital advertising efforts for higher impact and efficiency by leveraging the power of a mixed-media approach.