Households slicing again on groceries – however spending extra on TV subscriptions, knowledge suggests

UK households in the reduction of on meals purchasing and consuming out in March however splashed out on subscriptions to TV streaming companies to catch new seasons of fashionable exhibits, knowledge suggests.

Consumer card spending grew 4% year-on-year in March, in accordance with a Barclays report.

It comes after the patron costs index (CPI) measure of inflation took a shock leap in February to 10.4%, up from 10.1% in January, and pushed by a rising price of meals and alcoholic drinks in pubs and eating places.

According to the Barclays report, which mixes lots of of hundreds of thousands of buyer transactions with shopper analysis, spending on groceries elevated 7.1% – as 88% of customers stated they had been involved about rising meals costs and 62% reported discovering methods to scale back the price of their weekly store.

More than half of these on the lookout for financial savings – 53% – stated they had been slicing down on luxuries or one-off treats, whereas 38% stated they had been planning meals prematurely to keep away from meals waste, or utilizing vouchers to get cash off their grocery invoice.

Home enchancment and DIY shops loved a seasonal enhance in accordance with the report, whereas spending on digital content material and subscriptions was up 4.1% – its highest year-on-year rise in 5 months.

The report stated this was seemingly pushed by the most recent season premieres of fashionable exhibits akin to Succession, Ted Lasso and The Mandalorian.

Spending on utilities was up 39.3% on final yr as households saved their heating on because of the chilly climate persisting into March.

As the price of dwelling disaster gathered steam, 54% of customers stated they had been slicing down on discretionary spending, particularly consuming out at eating places, 62%, and shopping for new garments and equipment, 63%.

Looking forward, only a third of Britons – 35% – stated they’d spend on actions through the King’s coronation financial institution vacation weekend in May.

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Esme Harwood, director at Barclays, stated: “The below-inflation rise in grocery spending shows that Brits are still trying their hardest to shave money off their weekly shop, as energy bills continue to rise.

“Cutbacks are additionally impacting eating places, with a variety of cash-strapped customers even avoiding social plans that contain meals out.

“Hospitality and leisure businesses will be hoping that the busy bank holiday period provides a boost to counteract consumers’ everyday cost-savings.”

Opinium surveyed 2,000 respondents between 24 and 28 March.