More signs emerge of UK economic recovery

The Nationwide Consumer Confidence index rose to 63 in August from an upwardly-revised 61 in July. That was the highest since May 2008 and reflected Britons' more upbeat view on current and future conditions as well as a greater willingness to spend.

A separate survey by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation and accountants KPMG showed the number of job appointments rose last month for the first time in over a year.

On inflation, figures from the British Retail Consortium showed shop prices fell 0.1 percent last month to register their first negative reading since February 2007.

Nationwide's consumer confidence index showed a broad improvement in shoppers' morale.

The expectations index, which gauges peoples' sentiment about the economy, jobs and their own finances in 6 months' time, rose to 94 from 91 in July -- the highest since September 2007, when the credit crunch kicked off.

The present situation index improved modestly to 17 from 16 in July, but still suggests that Britons are overwhelmingly downbeat about the current climate, with more than 70 percent of respondents describing the current employment and economic situation as "bad".

The index for firms' hiring of permanent workers rose to 50.6 from July's 46.1. That was the highest level for 17 months and above the 50-level that separates contraction from expansion. For temporary staff, the index rose to 50.3 from 45.1, its highest since July 2008; Kazinform cites China Daily. See www.chinadaily.com.cn for full version.