UK households became more upbeat about their finances in January, a survey from data firm IHS Markit showed yesterday, with December's General Election result and falling inflation pushing optimism to a one-year high. The survey was the latest to show rising optimism following Boris Johnson's thumping election win in the middle of December. Firms and households can now be sure Britain is leaving the EU on 31 January, providing some economic certainty after a torrid 2019. Yet Joe Hayes of IHS Markit said: "Cooling inflation was most likely the real driving force, propping up real earnings and disposable incomes." Households reported that living cost inflation eased in January.

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