UK households feel very worried about their money, says a new survey by S&P Global. Consumer confidence in the UK is at its weakest level in two years. The Consumer Sentiment Index scored 44.8 in February, just barely up from 44.6 in January. A score below 50 shows confidence is falling. The survey highlights that people are anxious about growing debts, future earnings, and savings. "A period of prolonged rain and a dearth of sunshine have no doubt not helped to lift the low spirits seen among households, but there’s more going on here than just bad weather," said Maryam Baluch, an economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence. She added that loan availability dropped steeply while the need for credit rose. Households are taking on debt at a faster pace not seen since July. All age groups took on more debt, with the sharpest rise among 18- to 24-year-olds. This age group also faces the highest unemployment rate since 2020. Catherine Mann, a Bank of England committee member, said the rise in minimum wage might have "manifested in unemployment" for younger workers. The S&P survey comes before official UK data on employment and wages for late 2025. Unemployment is expected to stay at 5.1%, with wage growth slowing slightly. All UK regions saw a drop in savings and cash on hand, especially in the East Midlands, Northern Ireland, and Yorkshire. The willingness to make big purchases is at a 10-month low because of financial worries. Baluch said, "The low appetite to spend bodes ill for the broader impetus to purchase, hinting at a sustained drag on economic growth from sluggish consumer spending in the first quarter."