Barclays: UK consumer card spending returns to growth in May, up 0.8% y/y

• Barclays Consumer Spend data showed UK card spending rose 0.8% year over year in May, reversing April’s -0.1% decline.
• Essential spending increased 0.7%, led by fuel up 11.9%, while non-essential spending returned to growth at 0.9%.
• Travel spending fell 5.8% for a third straight monthly decline; airline spending dropped 12.9%, signaling delayed international bookings.
• Entertainment spending climbed 5.8%; digital content and subscriptions rose 12.8%, the strongest growth since August 2021.
• Economic confidence rebounded to January levels; UK economy confidence rose to 25% in May from 22% in April.

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 June 09, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.