Consumer spending

How will drop in inflation affect plans to raise UK interest rates?

Bank of England must proceed with caution as households are still cutting back and business confidence is weak

Richard Partington Economics correspondent

18, Jan, 2023 @11:01 AM

M&S enjoys a bumper Christmas with best ever food sales

Retailer boasts biggest share of clothing and homeware market in seven years, as Tesco hails festive boom

Sarah Butler

12, Jan, 2023 @8:32 AM

UK household income likely to fall by £2,000 a year, says thinktank

Resolution Foundation says UK only halfway through two-year cost of living crisis, with only very richest likely to see income rise in 2023-24

Phillip Inman

09, Jan, 2023 @12:01 AM

UK credit card borrowing soars to highest monthly level since 2004

Concerns mount over cost of living crisis as November figures show additional £1.2bn borrowing on cards

Phillip Inman

04, Jan, 2023 @2:13 PM

Footfall slumped 27% on British high streets after Christmas, data shows

Number of shoppers out between Christmas and new year only 7.2% higher than in 2021, amid Omicron fear

Joe Middleton and agencies

02, Jan, 2023 @4:11 PM

Almost 50 UK shops closed for good every day in 2022, says report

Centre for Retail Research says 17,145 stores shut in total, up almost 50% on 2021, during pandemic

Julia Kollewe

02, Jan, 2023 @6:00 AM

UK retail spending falls in 2022 amid cost of living crisis

Barclaycard data shows number of transactions was up but high inflation led to smaller basket sizes

Larry Elliott Economics editor

30, Dec, 2022 @12:49 PM

Two-thirds of UK consumers plan to cut non-essentials in 2023

Cost of living crisis forcing families to cut back on eating out, holidays and other discretionary items, survey finds

Richard Partington

29, Dec, 2022 @6:01 AM

Extra bank holiday proves even more popular with shoppers than Boxing Day

About 40% greater footfall recorded at retailers on Tuesday than on traditional day for festive sales

Joanna Partridge

28, Dec, 2022 @3:54 PM

‘It’s just not tenable’: cost of living crisis hits sustainability sector

With shoppers prioritising cheaper gifts over sustainable ones, independent businesses are struggling to stay afloat

Sophie Zeldin-O'Neill

20, Dec, 2022 @6:00 AM

How inflation stole Christmas in UK: in five charts

As millions say they are cutting back, we look at key areas fuelling a Christmas cost of living crisis

Michael Goodier, Pamela Duncan and Carmen Aguilar García

14, Dec, 2022 @6:00 AM

UK food price inflation hits new high of 12.4%

Rise in cost of essentials will hit poorer households, already struggling with higher energy bills, hardest