Online grocery shopping and spending on pets contributed majorly in card spending in the UK in 2021, states a recent report claiming that consumer overall spending increased by 5.9 per cent in 2021 compared to 2019.
Online grocery shopping, a trend which looks set to continue beyond the pandemic, surged by over 97 per cent during the year. The highest increase of the year in online grocery spending came in March, when it climbed by almost 120 per cent, as many consumers relied on deliveries from food retailers.
The report also states that food and drink specialist stores including butchers, green grocers and meal-kit providers saw 74 per cent growth this year with consumers favoring local shops.
Spending at vets and pet retailers saw a spike of 29 per cent as compared to 2019.
In a report, Barclaycard, which sees nearly half of the nation’s credit and debit card transactions, said so-called “insperiences” boosted spending on takeaways and fast food by 62 per cent in 2021 and digital subscriptions by 47 per cent- figures which highlight the shift away from shopping in stores amid Covid-19 pandemic.
The outlook for consumer spending over the coming year remains uncertain amid rising Covid cases, according to Jose Carvalho, head of consumer products at Barclaycard.
“As we look ahead to 2022, the economy will face fresh challenges from rising household bills, inflation, and uncertainty about the new Covid variant,” Carvalho said. “Yet, as we’ve seen over the last two years, consumers and businesses are capable of adapting to and overcoming immense hardship and adversity”.
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