Retailers are seeing signs of a slow turnaround in consumer confidence

The latest ANZ-Roy Morgan Index for December, shows confidence has risen back into triple figures, to 100-point-2-points.

It also showed a big increase in the number of people thinking now is a good time to buy a major household item.

Retail NZ chief executive Carolyn Young says they're not expecting as strong a recovery as thought, as other economic factors kick in.

She says maybe we're out of the darkness and getting closer to the light, where people will start to feel more confident over job security and meeting household costs.