UK consumer confidence rose sharply in January, with consumers more upbeat about both their own financial prospects and the overall economic outlook, according to the latest GfK survey released Wednesday. The Martin Hamblin Gfk Consumer Confidence barometer rose to 6 in January, the highest reading since June last year and up from -1 in December. GfK warned, however, that some of the rise may be seasonal. Past experience has shown consumer confidence tends to pick up in January, with the GfK barometer rising by 6 points in January 2001 and by 7 points in January the year before.//MarketNews