The report includes an overview of the changes in household well-being over the last three years, a breakdown of planned and recent spending, and consumers' assessment of when the feelgood factor will return to the economy.

Free to Mintel Oxygen subscribers, the report is the second in an ongoing series of quarterly updates. Each quarter, the core tracker questions are supplemented by a focus on a different demographic group - this quarter, the emphasis is on families - and by additional research into emerging economic development.

The report includes an overview of the changes in household well-being over the last three years, a breakdown of planned and recent spending, and consumers' assessment of when the feelgood factor will return to the economy.

Free to Mintel Oxygen subscribers, the report is the second in an ongoing series of quarterly updates. Each quarter, the core tracker questions are supplemented by a focus on a different demographic group - this quarter, the emphasis is on families - and by additional research into emerging economic development.

Mintel's Consumers and the Economic Outlook - Quarterly Update shows that families tend to be struggling more than most. They are continuing to spend, however, and the research shows that consumers are already anticipating Christmas: spending intentions on clothes and electricals, in particular, have increased over the last few months.