Barclays: UK card spending growth slows to 2.0% in September

• Barclays analysis showed UK card spending rose 2.0% year-on-year in September, below CPIH inflation of 3.3%.
• Essential spend increased 2.5%, outpacing non-essential at 1.8%; fuel spending jumped 17.3% as diesel prices hit record highs.
• Hospitality and leisure spending grew 2.7%, with eating and drinking up 2.4% in warm September weather.
• Confidence in household finances rose to 67%, a seven-month high; UK economy confidence held at 26%.
• Pre-Budget caution persisted; 68% worried about household impact, 30% cut non-essential spend, 27% delayed major purchases.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. Barclays plc published the original content used to generate this news brief on October 13, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.