UK Stocks-Factors to watch on December 9

Dec 9 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening down on Tuesday, with futures FFIc1 down 0.02%.

CONSUMER SPENDING: British consumers kept a tight rein on their spending in November as they awaited finance minister Rachel Reeves' budget, while retailers said Black Friday sales disappointed, according to surveys.

UNILEVER: Unilever ULVR.L said it will consolidate its shares at a ratio of eight new shares for nine existing shares, after it completed the demerger of its ice cream business Magnum MICC.N.

INFLATION: British inflation is likely to return to its 2% target "in the near term" as wage growth and inflation in the services sector look set to slow further, Bank of England policymaker Alan Taylor said.

ALDI: Britons feeling the pinch are spreading the cost of Christmas by shopping earlier and swapping festive meals out for dining in, the boss of the UK arm of German discounter Aldi said.

COMMODITIES: Oil prices steadied as market participants kept a close eye on peace talks to end Russia's war in Ukraine, while gold traded flat as investors had largely priced in a Federal Reserve rate cut.

FTSE: The main UK stock indexes slipped on Monday as investors geared up for interest rate decisions from the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of England.

• UK CORPORATE DIARY:

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