Separate figures from Barclays show spending on essential items returned to growth in January, up 0.1%, after four consecutive months of decline, while supermarket spending also increased for the first time since August 2024, up 1% year on year.
Total retail sales across the UK increased by 2.6% year on year in January, albeit against the weak 1.2% uplift of a year earlier, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG.
Sales of non-food items were up 2.5% year on year in January, against a decline of 2.8% a year earlier, as consumers took advantage of significant discounting on furniture, bedding and accessories to refresh their homes.
Spending on digital content and subscriptions increased 8.3% one in five consumers (19%) said they used their entertainment subscriptions more than usual due to the weather, while growth in takeaway spending reached a year-long high at 5.1%.
Linda Ellett, UK head of consumer, retail and leisure at KPMG, said: “2025 got off to a welcome start for retailers with much-needed sales growth in January.
