Consumer card spending in furniture stores fell during April when compared to last year, although transaction value rose, says new data from Barclays.
According to the latest Barclays Consumer Spending Index, which includes both debit and credit cards, furniture store spending growth decreased -0.9%, while transaction growth was up 2.9% against the same month last year.
Home improvement and DIY stores saw spending growth decline -2.1%, with transaction growth down -2.9%. Department stores saw spending growth decrease -5.1%, with transaction growth down by -1.5%, while garden centres saw spending growth decline -5.8%, with transaction growth down by -4.9%.
Overall, consumer card spending declined -0.1 per cent year-on-year in April – the first fall since November 2024 (-0.5 per cent) and below the latest CPIH inflation rate of 3.4 per cent. Non-essential spending declined (-0.3 per cent), after a 1.1 per cent increase in March, but essential spend grew 0.3 per cent, as fuel surged 10.4 per cent – its greatest rise since December 2022.
Karen Johnson, Head of Retail at Barclays, said: “In April, we saw consumers taking precautionary action in response to renewed cost-of-living concerns – cutting non-essential spending, building their savings and looking for ways to reduce their outgoings. There’s no doubt people will continue to pay close attention to their budget amid ongoing uncertainty, however it’s reassuring to see that the majority feel confident in their ability to manage their day-to-day spending and to make sound financial decisions.”
