Warm weather and Easter weekend boosted UK spending in April, says Barclays

The warm April weather and extended Easter weekend spurred increased consumer spending in British households, with total card spend rising 4.5% year-on-year, its highest since June 2023. Non-essential purchases like dining out surged by 5.1%, marking the sharpest two-year rise, while high street shopping rebounded 6.9% following a March decline amid economic concerns. Despite global uncertainties and US tariffs, economic sentiment stayed unexpectedly positive, supported by plans for further rate cuts by the Bank of England and potential UK-US trade agreements, alongside mortgage applications spiking due to updated stamp duty thresholds benefiting first-time buyers.