British Consumers’ Retail Spending Sees Sharp Fall During April

Retail spending by British consumers registered a sharp contraction during the month of April as a result of the lockdown measures imposed by the government in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. According to the latest survey by BRC, total retail sales declined by 19.1% YoY during April, the fastest rate of contraction on record since the survey began.

In-store sales of non-good items was down by 36% even as sales of food items rose by 6% in April. Consumers, however, increased their online spending on non-good items by almost 60% amid the lockdown.

Meanwhile, according to a separate survey by Barclaycard, British consumers spending using their credit and debit cards also contracted by 36.5% YoY for the period. The contraction was a direct result of the shutdowns across the country, which forced people to stay indoors and cancel their plans for travel, eating out, and make non-essential purchases.

Barclaycard’s survey also indicates a 14% rise in supermarket sales and a 27% increase in online shopping, espcially on home improvement, while sales at pubs and restaurants were down by 97%. Consumer confidence in the economy has slumped to the lowest levels seen in around six years as a result of the ongoing crisis, with only 20% respondents feeling optimistic about the economic outlook.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR See More
Arslan Butt
Index & Commodity Analyst
Arslan Butt serves as the Lead Commodities and Indices Analyst, bringing a wealth of expertise to the field. With an MBA in Behavioral Finance and active progress towards a Ph.D., Arslan possesses a deep understanding of market dynamics.His professional journey includes a significant role as a senior analyst at a leading brokerage firm, complementing his extensive experience as a market analyst and day trader. Adept in educating others, Arslan has a commendable track record as an instructor and public speaker.His incisive analyses, particularly within the realms of cryptocurrency and forex markets, are showcased across esteemed financial publications such as ForexCrunch, InsideBitcoins, and EconomyWatch, solidifying his reputation in the financial community.
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