* The last few years have been tough for UK consumers.
* Consumer spending fell by 6.6% between late 2007 and early
2009 – the biggest consumer recession since the 1930s. Since
then spending has seen a weak and choppy recovery, one that has
left UK consumers spending 4% less than they were in 2007.
* With consumer expenditure accounting for over 60% of the
economy a weak consumer has been a major drag on the wider
economy.
* But the relationship between the consumer and the rest of the
economy has changed. Last year as the economy dipped back into
recession the consumer sector returned to growth.
* Expenditure has risen for three quarters in a row, the first
time this has happened since before the crash. In 2012 the UK
economy saw no growth while consumer spending rose slightly, by
0.8%. Car sales rose by 5.5% last year. Unemployment fell and more
jobs were created in the private sector than were lost in the
public sector. Much of the job growth has been in
