Great Britain buyers inspired by food trends on social media ‘Lift retail sales’ | Retail industry

Buyers who were inspired by food trends on social media High-street store After a dark festive time.

According to Barclays, credit and debit card editions in January have increased by 1.9% compared to the previous year – the highest upswing since March 2024.

After an increase in discretionary expenditure on health and beauty by 10.7% – the strongest growth rate for the sector for more than three years – what the bank was due to the bank’s increasing fluctuations what consumers buy were won.

While trading in most retailers remained hard, the popular health trends have proven to be a driving force for online and brick sales in view of the recommendations of social media stars. Every fifth consumer (19%) stated that he was recently influenced by social media content to make a health or beauty purchase, which rose to 40% for gen, the bank said.

An even higher ratio-two fifth of consumers (41%) stated that they recently bought products or services in response to it Popular wellness trends.

Dietary supplements, vitamins and protein -rich food areas were among the trends on social media that most often translated into higher sales.

In January, cinemas and entertainment sites also achieved a strong performance of 8.1% compared to the previous year. The cinema revenue alone rose 15.1% as family -friendly films Mufasa: The Lion King and Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Locked in the spectators, said Barclays.

A separate survey by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) showed that the turnover of food and non-food increased in January, although the lobby group said a quarter from October to December.

Companies have complained that the uncertainty about the economy, high interest rates and fears of further prices have subdued consumer expenses and made profits.

The profits are expected to take another knock in April if higher employment taxes are specified in announced taxes Rachel Reeves’ October budget And an increase in the minimum wage. Marks & Spencer was the youngest retailer To argue that the sector is severely influenced by the additional costs for employers. The sector has warned that the higher costs could lead to job losses and higher prices.

The BRC said there was a return to the more normal trade in the three months until January, but warned that it could be short -lived.

The total sales of retail increased by 2.6% in January compared to a growth rate of 1.2% in January 2024 last month. BRC said sales rose by only 0.4% in the three months to December in the same period in the previous year.

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The turnover of computers, telephones and other household items rose in January and lasted an annual decline of 2.8% last month in an annual win of 2.5% last January.

Food transactions also achieved profits and increased sales last year by 2.8%, although this marked a slowdown from an annual increase of 6.1% to January 2024.

According to Barclays, its measure for essential expenses in January showed a modest increase of 0.1%, although this was the reversed four consecutive months of decline.

Jack means that the chief -uk economist in Barclays said that the likelihood of lower interest rates would strengthen consumer expenses this year. But a forecast of the Bank of England, that Inflation reaches a new highlight of 3.7% The opposite effect was probably until autumn.

“We assume that [from 4.5% now] Before the end of the year, what consumers who will increase in the coming months should feel the pinch again with increasing inflation, although this increases temporarily. “