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Barclays has issued a message to anyone with a debit card after its latest research. The high street bank says all seven measures of consumer and economic confidence tracked fell for the first time since August 2022.

Two in five consumers are adjusting their finances ahead of the Autumn Budget, with one in three holding off on major purchasing decisions until after the announcement.

Retail recorded its steepest fall since November 2024, with department stores and discounters both in decline. Two thirds of shoppers say their festive favourites are getting smaller despite price rises, as majority notice chocolate being hit by both ‘shrinkflation’ and ‘skimpflation’

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Julien Lafargue, Chief M

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