Spending with travel agents and airlines grew by more than 9% last month, latest Barclays consumer card outlay data shows.
Agents saw year-on-year transaction growth of 14.6% in September as spending increased by 9.2% – up from the 7.2% level reported in August.
Transactions with airlines went up by five per cent as spending growth rose by 9.3%.
The figures show that increases in spending across most other sectors was more subdued, with the exception of digital content and subscriptions and shows and concerts as Oasis 2025 tour tickets went on sale.
Overall consumer card spending increased 1.2% year-on-year in September, after returning to growth in August, but remained lower than the latest CPIH [consumer price index] inflation rate of 3.1%.
Non-essential spending saw its highest growth so far this year, at 2.7%, as retailers’ discounting incentivised shoppers.
Several retail sub-categories enjoyed a strong performance, such as clothing, health & beauty, and department stores, while entertainment spend increased 14.4%, according to the Barclays data.
Essential items saw their greatest decline of 1.7% since April 2020.
Spending on groceries fell for the first time since June as people continued to find ways to cut costs, with supermarkets saw a 1.1% dip.
Barclays head of retail Karen Johnson said: “Retail’s recovery emerged as a bright spot in September, despite there being colder weather and darker evenings on the horizon.
“While shoppers’ remain cost-conscious, it’s clear they’re responsive to retailers’ promotional activity. Discerning shoppers are also finding room for treats and little luxuries within their budget, demonstrating that consumers are prioritising spending on things that bring them joy.
“While many are anticipating a costly Christmas, there are encouraging signs that people feel confident in their ability to manage their household finances and take control of their festive spending.”