Monthly Sector Insights

We analyse over 180 million transactions and £8 billion in monthly spend to generate a comprehensive view of consumer behaviour. The data encompasses various sectors, including retail, leisure, and travel & transport and enables us to understand where spending is occurring, the types of demographic groups making the spending, and by which channel (online vs offline).


Jump to sector:  Retail  |  Leisure  |  Travel & transport

Sector: Retail

According to Experian’s Spend Insights panel data, consumer spending across the UK retail sector in July 2024 remained largely consistent with both June’s figures and the same period in 2023.

The clothing and fashion sector experienced a slight decline, with sales down 0.4% compared to July 2023 and 1.4% from the previous month as warmer weather failed to fully convince consumers to transition to summer wardrobes.

We have previously noted the ongoing challenges in the Home Furnishings and Electronics & Appliances sectors, driven by the rising cost of consumer credit and a sluggish housing market and this trend persisted in July. While the Electronics & Appliances sector saw a slight rebound from June, overall spending remained significantly lower than in July 2023 across both sectors.

Looking ahead, the UK retail sector continues to face significant challenges in the second half of the year. Despite some positive economic signals, government efforts to address the national spending imbalance may further impact consumer spending.

Sector: Leisure

As the school holidays commenced at the end of July, consumer spending saw a modest increase compared to June’s figures. However, overall spending across the leisure sector was down approximately 6% compared to the same period last year. Improved weather conditions towards the latter part of the month, coinciding with the start of the summer break meant consumers where able to spend time outdoors with a reduced need for indoor activities.

However, the cinema sector did experience a notable uptick, driven by strong visitor numbers to new releases – *Despicable Me 4* and *Deadpool and Wolverine*. This increase helped offset the slow start to 2024, although the observed spend was still some way below the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon of July last year.

Meanwhile, Restaurants, Pubs, and Bars continued to face significant challenges in attracting consumer spending, with both sectors reporting a notable decline compared to the same period in 2023—despite the improved weather and the excitement of England reaching the Euro 2024 finals.

Sector: Travel & transport

Demand for outbound travel from the UK continued its strong upward trajectory in July, according to our Spend Insight panel data. Total sector spending increased by 9.2% compared to July 2023, highlighting the UK consumer’s ongoing preference for holidays and travel over other discretionary spending categories.

Spending on airlines rose by 2.2% compared to June and saw an impressive 8% increase year-on-year. Although spending on package holidays experienced a slight dip from June levels, it surged by 12% compared to July 2023, demonstrating the continued appeal of pre-planned vacations for UK travelers.

Domestic travel also saw a significant boost. Spending on UK-based hotels, which had been sluggish in previous months, experienced a marked uptick in July. This coincided with the start of the school holidays and improved weather, which also contributed to a rise in rail travel.

Overall, the travel sector remains a standout in the UK’s consumer spending landscape, with both international and domestic travel benefiting from strong demand, as families and individuals prioritise leisure and experiences during the summer months.