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Confidence in UK economy hits 21 month-high and spending climbs 2.0 per cent in July, boosted by pubs, cinemas and staycations

WHAT HAPPENED

Consumers reported feeling more confident in their job security and ability to buy non-essentials, as discretionary spending grew 1.6 per cent

PUBLISHED August 11, 2026BY Official sourceSOURCE Barclays News

Confidence in UK economy hits 21 month-high and spending climbs 2.0 per cent in July, boosted by pubs, cinemas and staycations — Original image from the official source page

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Confidence in UK economy hits 21 month-high and spending climbs 2.0 per cent in July, boosted by pubs, cinemas and staycations

Evidence tier: A1 Evidence type: Auto-discovered official publication Source: Barclays News Official publication date: 2026-08-11 Captured: 2026-08-30T12:34:58.025Z

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Consumers reported feeling more confident in their job security and ability to buy non-essentials, as discretionary spending grew 1.6 per cent
Transactions at pubs, bars and clubs surged 10.0 per cent, thanks to England’s World Cup run, with overall hospitality & leisure up 2.2 per cent
Accommodation (2.6 per cent) and travel agents (2.5 per cent) both saw uplifts, but airline spend declined YoY, as holidaymakers prioritised UK trips
Cinemas enjoyed a 2.6 per cent uplift owing to box office hits Toy Story 5 and The Odyssey, while subscriptions continued their strong streak, up 7.7 per cent
Confidence in both the UK and European economy climbed six percentage points each respectively, with the latter reaching its highest point in over 10 years
The Barclays Consumer Spend report combines hundreds of millions of customer transactions with consumer research to provide an in-depth view of UK spending

Card spending grew by 2.0 per cent year-on-year in July, following a 1.9 per cent increase in June, but remained below the latest CPIH inflation rate of 2.8 per cent. Essential spending grew 2.9 per cent and non-essential spending increased 1.6 per cent, with England’s run at the World Cup, the July heatwave and recovering consumer confidence all contributing to the uplift.

Confidence in the strength of the UK economy reached 30 per cent in July – representing a 21 month-high and a six-percentage point improvement on June. Confidence in the European economy also climbed six points to 35 per cent – the highest level recorded since Barclays started tracking this measure in 2015.

Consumers reported feeling more confident in both their job security and ability to spend on non-essential items, at 47 per cent and 53 respectively (up from 46 per cent and 51 per cent). Confidence in household finances stabilised at 64 per cent, with the majority feeling able to manage their money without significant stress, and to make good financial decisions in uncertain times (both 57 per cent).

<table><tbody><tr><td colspan="7">Barclays consumer confidence measures</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Jan</td><td>Feb</td><td>Mar</td><td>Apr</td><td>May</td><td>Jun</td><td>Jul</td></tr><tr><td>Strength of the UK economy</td><td>24%</td><td>25%</td><td>21%</td><td>22%</td><td>25%</td><td>24%</td><td>30%</td></tr><tr><td>Strength of the European economy</td><td>28%</td><td>29%</td><td>26%</td><td>25%</td><td>28%</td><td>29%</td><td>35%</td></tr><tr><td>Strength of the global economy</td><td>25%</td><td>24%</td><td>21%</td><td>20%</td><td>25%</td><td>26%</td><td>27%</td></tr><tr><td>Household finances</td><td>66%</td><td>67%</td><td>65%</td><td>64%</td><td>65%</td><td>64%</td><td>64%</td></tr><tr><td>Job security</td><td>43%</td><td>44%</td><td>44%</td><td>43%</td><td>43%</td><td>46%</td><td>47%</td></tr><tr><td>Ability to spend on non-essentials</td><td>54%</td><td>55%</td><td>53%</td><td>49%</td><td>52%</td><td>51%</td><td>53%</td></tr><tr><td>Ability to live within means</td><td>71%</td><td>74%</td><td>71%</td><td>69%</td><td>70%</td><td>70%</td><td>69%</td></tr></tbody></table>

Socialising, staycations and cinema trips

England’s World Cup run contributed to the volume of pub transactions growing 10.0 per cent in July, with the value of spending up 7.4 per cent, its highest level since December 2023 (7.9 per cent). Meanwhile the overall hospitality & leisure category grew 2.2 per cent, with cinemas enjoying a 2.6 per cent boost, following the release of Toy Story 5 and The Odyssey.

Travel spending declined for the fifth consecutive month, down -0.3 per cent. Airlines contracted -6.0 per cent, but travel agents saw a 2.5 per cent uplift. Meanwhile hotels, resorts and accommodation grew 2.6 per cent, suggesting holidaymakers are still prioritising staycations over trips abroad amid ongoing travel uncertainty, while making the most of higher UK temperatures.

Too hot to shop?

Retail spending grew 2.1 per cent, building on June’s 1.9 per cent uplift. The sunny weather also boosted electronic stores (1.3 per cent), garden centres (4.0 per cent) and on clothing (2.0 per cent). This comes as one in five (20 per cent) UK adults said they bought light and cool summer clothes in response to the heatwave, while one in four (25 per cent) avoided cooking and exercising outdoors (26 per cent) as a result.

UK adults chose 24.6°C as their ideal summer temperature, 13.1°C lower than 2026’s record high, but one in eight (12 per cent) selected 30°C+. This drops further when considering different activities, with Brits claiming 22°C is their maximum for a comfortable night’s sleep and 23.7°C for exercising outdoors.

<table><tbody><tr><td colspan="6">Brits’ maximum temperature for daily activities</td></tr><tr><td>Shopping</td><td>Commuting</td><td>WFH</td><td>Sleeping</td><td>Cooking</td><td>Exercising</td></tr><tr><td>25.1°C</td><td>24.2°C</td><td>23.7°C</td><td>22.0°C</td><td>24.7°C</td><td>23.7°C</td></tr></tbody></table>

AI-led planning and budgeting on the rise

Half of UK adults (48 per cent) have now used AI for planning or budgeting – a significant uplift from 35 per cent in July 2025 – with product research, budgeting and holiday planning emerging as the top uses. Four in five (78 per cent) Gen Zs have used AI for these purposes, a nine point rise year-on-year (from 69 per cent in July 2025). Of this group, 26 per cent have used AI tools to create a workout or fitness plan.

Rohan Kumar, Head of Spend Insights at Barclays, said: “Card spending strengthened further in July, reaching its highest level for 12 months, with both essential and non-essential spend remaining in growth. Multiple factors played a part, with UK staycations, continued warm weather and England’s World Cup run lifting spending on travel, hospitality, everyday essentials and seasonal retail categories.”

Overall growth figures

<table><tbody><tr><td> </td><td>Spend Growth</td><td>Transaction Growth</td></tr><tr><td>Essential</td><td>2.9%</td><td>2.6%</td></tr><tr><td>Non-Essential</td><td>1.6%</td><td>2.1%</td></tr><tr><td> </td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>OVERALL</td><td>2.0%</td><td>2.3%</td></tr><tr><td>Retail</td><td>2.1%</td><td>3.2%</td></tr><tr><td>Clothing</td><td>2.0%</td><td>5.7%</td></tr><tr><td>Grocery</td><td>2.6%</td><td>3.9%</td></tr><tr><td><ul><li>Supermarkets</li></ul></td><td>2.2%</td><td>2.4%</td></tr><tr><td><ul><li>Food & Drink Specialist</li></ul></td><td>6.0%</td><td>11.6%</td></tr><tr><td>Household</td><td>-0.1%</td><td>4.4%</td></tr><tr><td><ul><li>Home Improvements & DIY</li></ul></td><td>-0.7%</td><td>0.5%</td></tr><tr><td><ul><li>Electronics</li></ul></td><td>1.3%</td><td>9.6%</td></tr><tr><td><ul><li>Furniture Stores</li></ul></td><td>-1.6%</td><td>1.9%</td></tr><tr><td><ul><li>Garden Centres</li></ul></td><td>4.0%</td><td>0.4%</td></tr><tr><td>General Retailers</td><td>2.7%</td><td>1.6%</td></tr><tr><td><ul><li>General Retailers & Marketplaces</li></ul></td><td>4.1%</td><td>4.2%</td></tr><tr><td><ul><li>Department Stores</li></ul></td><td>-2.3%</td><td>-7.5%</td></tr><tr><td><ul><li>Discount & Rewards</li></ul></td><td>1.6%</td><td>-2.2%</td></tr><tr><td>Specialist Retailers</td><td>2.3%</td><td>1.0%</td></tr><tr><td><ul><li>Pharmacy, Health & Beauty</li></ul></td><td>2.5%</td><td>-1.4%</td></tr><tr><td><ul><li>Sports & Outdoor</li></ul></td><td>-2.0%</td><td>-0.8%</td></tr><tr><td><ul><li>Other Specialist Retailers</li></ul></td><td>4.0%</td><td>4.5%</td></tr><tr><td>Hospitality & Leisure</td><td>2.2%</td><td>0.8%</td></tr><tr><td>Digital Content & Subscriptions</td><td>7.7%</td><td>3.0%</td></tr><tr><td>Eating & Drinking</td><td>3.1%</td><td>0.1%</td></tr><tr><td><ul><li>Restaurants, Cafes & Bakeries</li></ul></td><td>2.1%</td><td>-0.3%</td></tr><tr><td><ul><li>Bars, Pubs & Clubs</li></ul></td><td>7.4%</td><td>10.0%</td></tr><tr><td><ul><li>Takeaways and Fast Food</li></ul></td><td>1.8%</td><td>-5.0%</td></tr><tr><td>Entertainment</td><td>2.0%</td><td>4.3%</td></tr><tr><td>Hotels, Resorts & Accommodation</td><td>2.6%</td><td>1.8%</td></tr><tr><td>Travel</td><td>-0.3%</td><td>-0.5%</td></tr><tr><td><ul><li>Travel Agents</li></ul></td><td>2.5%</td><td>5.7%</td></tr><tr><td><ul><li>Airlines</li></ul></td><td>-6.0%</td><td>-1.8%</td></tr><tr><td><ul><li>Public Transport</li></ul></td><td>-5.4%</td><td>-4.6%</td></tr><tr><td><ul><li>Other Travel</li></ul></td><td>5.0%</td><td>6.4%</td></tr><tr><td>Other</td><td>1.3%</td><td>2.7%</td></tr><tr><td>Fuel</td><td>10.5%</td><td>1.8%</td></tr><tr><td>Motoring</td><td>-5.1%</td><td>6.7%</td></tr><tr><td>Other Services</td><td>-0.1%</td><td>0.7%</td></tr><tr><td>Insperiences</td><td>3.4%</td><td>0.6%</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Online</td><td>1.8%</td><td>3.9%</td></tr><tr><td>Face-to-Face</td><td>2.2%</td><td>1.6%</td></tr></tbody></table>

Notes to Editors

Across its issuing and acquiring businesses, Barclays sees nearly 40 per cent of the nation’s credit and debit card transactions, which provides us with unique insight into UK consumer spending. Unless stated otherwise, this press release is based on consumer card spending data from Barclays’ issuing business – i.e. Barclays debit card and Barclaycard credit card transactions. It relates to the period covers 21st June 2025 to 24th July 2025 vs 20th June 2026 to 23rd July 2026.

The Barclays Consumer Spend research in this press release was carried out between 24th – 28th July 2026 by Opinium Research on behalf of Barclays. There were 2,000 respondents in each round of research, providing a representative sample of UK consumers by age, gender, region, and income group. Opinium adheres to Market Research Society (MRS) standards for respondent verification and transparency. All respondents were verified through Opinium’s rigorous identity validation and data quality processes.

For more information, please contact Dee Fallon at Deirdre.fallon@barclays.com or 07450 054 640.

About Barclays

Our vision is to be the UK-centred leader in global finance. We are a diversified bank with comprehensive UK consumer, corporate and wealth and private banking franchises, a leading investment bank and a strong, specialist US consumer bank. Through these five divisions, we are working together for a better financial future for our customers, clients and communities.

For further information about Barclays, please visit our website home.barclays.

About Barclays Spend Insights

Barclays Spend Insights helps businesses spot growth opportunities, respond to changing customer behaviours, and stay ahead of market trends, with intelligence segmented by region and customer demographics. For further information, visit our solutions site.

Confidence in UK economy hits 21 month-high and spending climbs 2.0 per cent in July, boosted by pubs, cinemas and staycations

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Confidence in UK economy hits 21 month-high and spending climbs 2.0 per cent in July, boosted by pubs, cinemas and staycations

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