Home improvement and DIY spending saw growth for the first time since June 2023, according to Barclays’ latest Consumer Spending Report—welcome news for the KBB sector. The data shows a 0.9% increase in March, marking a return to positive movement after nearly two years of decline in the category.
Garden centres recorded the fastest growth in the report, with spending up by 13.2%—the biggest rise since January. Related consumer research revealed that 23% of UK adults planned gardening activities over the Easter bank holiday, while 13% intended to take on DIY or renovation projects.
Wider household spending rose by 2.9%, with electronics up 4.6% and furniture sales growing 1.8%. However, overall retail spending was down slightly year-on-year by 0.2% in March. Essential spending declined by 2.9%, largely due to a 4% drop in supermarket transactions. In contrast, non-essential categories grew by 2.2%.
Rohan Kumar, Head of Client Insights at Barclays, commented:
“Overall consumer spending saw a slight rise in March, as consumers managed their budgets ahead of anticipated bill rises. Despite this caution, confidence in discretionary spending remained strong, with the sunnier weather boosting categories such as garden centres.”