According to statistics published today by the Official Credit Institute (ICO), the Consumer Confidence Index (ICC) fell by 3.8% during December to close the year at 74.9%, 13.2% down compared to the end of December 2006.

The fall is mainly attributed to growing financial uncertainty during the second half of last year.

Provisional figures released today indicate that there was a 5.27% rise in unemployment during last year, coinciding with a 4.3% rise in inflation.