CONSUMER spending fell by 7.1 per cent year-on-year in 2020 but lifestyle changes during the coronavirus pandemic boosted growth for some sectors, according to analysis.
Support for local high streets remained strong as spending at food and drink specialist stores such as butchers and bakeries saw an uplift, as did digital subscriptions as people were gripped by TV shows at home.
The research, from Barclaycard, found spending on essential items increased by 4.1 per cent year-on-year in 2020.
This was largely driven by supermarket shopping, which saw an overall growth of 15.7 per cent, with online grocery shopping surging by 70.3 per cent as the demand for delivery services increased.
These trends, along with lower prices at the petrol pump, also contributed to a 20.3 per cent decline in spend on fuel.
Specialist food and drink stores – which include butchers and bakeries – experienced an overall spending uplift of 28.6 per cent annually.
Spending on digital subscriptions and electronics recorded growth of 31.5 per cent and 10.8 per cent respectively.
Ordering takeaways online surged 49.1 per cent and there was spending growth of 62.4 per cent on businesses offering services such as meal subscriptions.
Spending on non-essential items contracted 11.3 per cent, as social distancing restrictions impacted high street retailers and the hospitality sector.
Department store spend fell 17.2 per cent and expenditure on clothing contracted by 15.6 per cent annually.
While the Eat Out To Help Out scheme gave restaurants a boost, overall across 2020 spending on this sector fell by 47 per cent, Barclaycard said.
Spending on bars and pubs fell by 36.7 per cent.
The spending figures were based on Barclaycard credit and debit card transactions.
