Consumer confidence in Britain unexpectedly declined in April as inflation kept running above the Bank of England's (BoE) target, increasing households' concern about their person finances, GfK, a London-based research group, said Tuesday.

A sentiment index by GfK fell one point to minus 27, versus minus 26 the month before and economists forecasts. A gauge of how consumers see their finances over the next year fell to minus 7 from minus 6, according to a survey report released by GfK.

Nick Moon, managing director of social research at GfK, said: "A move up would suggest that the index had indeed 'paused for breath' after its rise at the end of 2012 and was still heading in the right direction."

The decline "implies the recovery in confidence has stalled, and real recovery looks a long way away," said Moon.

The index measuring changes in personal finances during the past 12 months fell 4 points to minus 24, and a gauge of Britons' view of the general economic situation in the period rose 1 point to minus 53.

The British Office of National Statistics last week showed data that the 2.43 trillion U.S. dollars economy grew 0.3 percent in the first quarter, avoiding a triple-dip recession during the past five years.

Inflation was at 2.8 percent in March, which was the 40th month above the BoE's target, and the central bank forecasts it will accelerate in the coming months.

GfK surveyed 2001 people from April 5 to April 14. Endi

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