Wicked Defies Gravity, Boosting Cinema Spending by 52% in December
Consumer card spending stalled in December, as joy-seeking Brits prioritised entertainment and travel over essentials. Entertainment enjoyed another “Wicked” performance, with cinemas up 52.1 per cent thanks to festive trips to the big screen. Are we shifting our priorities to celebrate life’s moments?
Recent research by Barclays reveals a -3.0% drop in essential spending in December. With fuel prices falling by -11.6%, many Brits are tightening their belts amid rising inflation concerns: nine in 10 adults said they were concerned about both rising food prices (86 per cent) and household bills (87 per cent). This chimes with the slowdown in supermarket spending, as two in three (64 per cent) Brits say they are looking for ways to get more value from their weekly shop or reduce how much they spend.
Smart shopping is the way to go. Did you know that 55% of savvy shoppers are hunting for loyalty scheme discounts? Plus, 51% are cashing in on vouchers & loyalty points, while 50% are on the hunt for discounted items! Shoppers are definitely looking to maximise their savings as we enter 2025.
Treats bring joy to cost-conscious Brits
Almost half (48 per cent) of consumers said they are planning to cut down on discretionary spending, however two in five Brits (40 per cent) said they were treating themselves and their loved ones in December, despite the impact on their household finances.
The overall retail sector slipped -0.2 per cent in the month, however, in the wake of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, gift shopping and seasonal discounts spurred growth of 1.6 per cent at general retailers, following a -1.7 per cent decline in November. Pharmacy, health & beauty finished the year on a high, having performed strongly throughout all of 2024, boasting 5.8 per cent growth.
Online shopping is most definitely on the rise! With a 2.6% growth in online retail (excluding groceries) and a 1.2% decline in face-to-face sales, it’s clear that convenience reigns supreme. One in five (17 per cent) Brits reported shopping online more frequently in the month, opting to purchase Christmas gifts from the comfort of their homes.
Home comforts
As we bid farewell to the old year, house-proud Brits are embracing fresh beginnings! December saw a 3.1% rise in spending at garden centres, fueled by seasonal discounts & festive spirit. Christmas tree purchases also likely contributed to this boost. Furniture stores also saw an increase (1.7 per cent), the category’s highest level of growth since March 2022, as Brits shopped for gifts and home improvements ahead of Christmas.
Wicked continues to defy expectations, while Brits cosy up for the small screen
Entertainment spending continued its strong run, with pantomimes, ballets, and Christmas concerts drawing in audiences throughout December as Brits continued to prioritise memorable experiences that bring them joy. Box-office phenomenon Wicked continued to ‘defy’ expectations and coax Brits out of their houses to the silver screen, with cinemas proving ‘popular’, up 52.1 per cent.
The colder, stormy weather seen across the country in December further encouraged many people to swap the high street for the small screen, as TV hits Black Doves and The Day of the Jackal delivered strong growth for Digital Content & Subscriptions. This comes as a fifth of Brits reported using their subscriptions more than usual amidst an influx of new content.
Trimmed-down December impacts restaurants and pubs
For those of us looking for ways to make savings, half said they plan to cut back on eating out in restaurants, while 38 per cent said they were looking to reduce how much they spend on drinks in bars, pubs and clubs. This, combined with “quad-demic” illnesses taking hold, meant both categories saw modest growth in December, with Restaurants, Cafes & Bakeries up just 1.1 per cent, while spending at Pubs, Bars & Clubs climbed 1.3 per cent, down from 2.1 per cent and 3.5 per cent respectively in November.
New Year, new habits
Looking ahead, 35 per cent plan to participate in ‘Dry January’ this year. Of this group, 40 per cent are doing so because they are trying to be healthier, while one in five want to reduce their spending on alcohol. Those taking part anticipate saving £57.70 each on average.
Also, one in four are diving into Veganuary, with health leading the way for 34% of participants. Plus, 26% are focused on reducing processed foods.
It’s clear that health and fitness are high on the agenda for those making New Year’s resolutions more broadly, chosen 31 per cent of this group. Financial wellbeing is also a clear priority; over one in four (27 per cent) of those setting goals for 2025 want to save more each month, while 24 per cent plan to cut back on takeaways.
Exotic getaways for 2025
Fed up with the dreary UK weather, the travel sector continued its strong performance in December as many people booked international trips to sunnier climes and made the most of the early arrival of fresh powder at ski resorts across Europe. Travel agents saw a 7.5 per cent increase, potentially helped by ‘Travel Tuesday’ deals in late November. Three quarters (74 per cent) of consumers plan to travel in 2025, suggesting this momentum will continue into the new year.
Karen Johnson, Head of Retail at Barclays, said: “Consumers demonstrated their ability to carefully manage their money once again in December, finding ways to save while still sprinkling in some cheer, setting aside funds to treat themselves and loved ones over the festive period.
“Brits are also planning to prioritise memorable moments in 2025, with travel emerging as a clear spending priority. Health is also held in high regard; those making New Year’s resolutions will cut back on pub trips, but spend on healthier alternatives to nights out.”
Overall growth figures
| Spend Growth | Transaction Growth | |
| Essential | -3.0% | -3.0% |
| Non Essential | 1.5% | 2.0% |
| OVERALL | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| Retail | -0.2% | -1.2% |
| Clothing | -0.7% | 0.2% |
| Grocery | -1.9% | -2.9% |
| Supermarkets | -2.0% | -2.5% |
| Food & Drink Specialist | -0.9% | -4.6% |
| Household | -0.3% | 5.0% |
| Home Improvements & DIY | -3.1% | -3.9% |
| Electronics | 0.8% | 14.5% |
| Furniture Stores | 1.7% | 4.3% |
| Garden Centres | 3.1% | 0.4% |
| General Retailers | 1.6% | 0.5% |
| General Retailers & Catalogues | 2.5% | 0.5% |
| Department Stores | -0.6% | 1.7% |
| Discount Stores | 0.2% | -0.7% |
| Specialist Retailers | 1.8% | -1.5% |
| Pharmacy, Health & Beauty | 5.8% | -0.5% |
| Sports & Outdoor | -2.5% | -4.2% |
| Other Specialist Retailers | 0.5% | -1.9% |
| Hospitality & Leisure | 3.5% | 2.8% |
| Digital Content & Subscription | 7.5% | 5.2% |
| Eating & Drinking | 1.1% | 0.7% |
| Restaurants, Cafes & Bakeries | 1.1% | -1.1% |
| Bars, Pubs & Clubs | 1.3% | -0.3% |
| Takeaways and Fast Food | 0.9% | 3.6% |
| Entertainment | 6.0% | 13.2% |
| Hotels, Resorts & Accommodation | 3.6% | 1.0% |
| Travel | 4.7% | 3.4% |
| Travel Agents | 7.5% | 17.8% |
| Airlines | 3.6% | -0.8% |
| Public Transport | -0.3% | -1.0% |
| Other Travel | 6.2% | 12.7% |
| Other | -4.0% | -1.8% |
| Fuel | -11.6% | -6.5% |
| Motoring | -7.4% | 3.8% |
| Other Services | 2.4% | 0.6% |
| Insperiences | 3.3% | 4.0% |
| Online | 2.3% | 3.4% |
| Face-to-Face | -1.7% | -1.4% |