Holidays take a hit as UK cost of living fears and Iran war bite
UK consumers have cut back on travel spending for the first time in five years, as they worry about the rising cost of living amid the Iran war.Overall consumer card spending increased 0.9% year on year in March, down from February’s 1%, according to data from Barclays.Travel spending fell by 3.3% last month, the first decline recorded by the lender since March 2021, as people postponed trips abroad or opted to holiday domestically.
In recent years, consumers have often prioritised spending on travel and “experiences” over physical products.People spent less at travel agents last month (down 4.6% annually), airlines (-4.1%) and public transport (-2.9%).
Spending on hotels, resorts and other accommodation went up by 1.2% amid a preference for UK-based outings and a rise in domestic bookings during the Easter break.The ongoing Middle East conflict – which started in late February with US-Israeli attacks on Iran – has also prompted one in seven adults to delay big purchases or to build up savings to prepare for rising energy costs.The UK’s energy regulator reduced the cost of gas and electricity bills by 7% from 1 April by lowering the energy price cap, but they are forecast to jump by 18% in July, reflecting higher wholesale costs.Spending on essential items such as food and petrol rose by 0.
5% last month, led by a 1.6% increase in spending on fuel, the first rise since February 2023, according to the Barclays report.Surging oil prices have pushed up prices at the pumps in recent weeks.Growth in “non-essential” discretionary spending slowed to 1.1%, with consumers still spending on clothing (up 3.
6% year on year) and entertainment (+3.5%).Cinema spending rose 5.5%, boosted by the box office successes of Ryan Gosling in Project Hail Mary and the Pixar animation Hoppers.Jack Meaning, chief UK Economist at Barclays, said: “Shoppers delaying major purchases and building up a savings buffer in response to the shock from the Middle East reinforces our view that activity will be muted in the coming months.
“With an interest rate decision due in less than three weeks’ time, the Bank of England will need to consider how to balance this softening economy with the inflation already taking effect.Our modelling suggests this balance is best struck by holding rates, containing the worst of inflation without unduly squeezing consumers.”Most adults remain confident in their household finances (67%) and ability to live within their means (71%), but have grown more pessimistic about the general economic outlook.Just over one in five (21%) are confident about the UK and global economies, down from 25% and 24%, respectively, in February.Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, said: “March’s figures may highlight some differences between how consumers feel and how they actually spend.
“Cost of living concerns and economic uncertainty continue to weigh on confidence, prompting caution and a desire to cut back, but spending remains resilient across several categories, namely clothing, entertainment and digital content and subscriptions.“Many are once again carefully managing their money while finding ways to prioritise the things that matter the most to them – an ongoing balancing act.”A separate report from the British Retail consortium showed UK retail sales increased by 3.6% year on year in March, against growth of 1.1% in March last year, and above the 12-month average of 2.
6%,This was driven by a 6,8% jump in food sales,Helen Dickinson, the group’s chief executive, said: “An early Easter provided a much-needed boost to food sales as families came together over the long weekend,Non-food performance was more uneven: demand was robust for computers, toys, and homeware, but clothing and footwear continued to struggle.
“The disruption to international travel caused by the Middle East conflict also hit sales of travel-related goods.”
The Masters, the Premier League run-in, the National: is there a better sporting month than April? | Sean Ingle
The thought struck me on the last rattler back from the Grand National, as Avanti’s wifi faltered somewhere outside Crewe and the Masters stream on my phone froze yet again. I was watching the world’s best golf tournament, on a train journey back from the world’s greatest steeplechase, having seen the best football match of the season – Real Madrid against Bayern Munich – earlier in the week. Is there a better month in the sporting calendar than April?Augusta always delivers. Club football hits peak levels of drama and jeopardy. Then there is Aintree, Paris-Roubaix, the start of the County Championship cricket season and the World Snooker Championship
Azzi Fudd taken first in WNBA draft by Dallas Wings in UConn reunion with Paige Bueckers
Azzi Fudd was selected by the Dallas Wings with the first pick of the WNBA draft on Monday night, capping a 12-month ascent from NCAA champion to the top overall choice and setting up a reunion with former University of Connecticut teammate Paige Bueckers.The 5ft 11in guard, who led UConn to last year’s national title and was named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player, is the seventh player from the program to go No 1. Bueckers, the top selection by Dallas in the 2025 draft and the reigning WNBA rookie of the year, watched Fudd’s name called from a sold-out crowd at the Shed, the $500m cultural center at Hudson Yards on Manhattan’s west side.“I’m not really sure I have words to describe the feeling, what that meant,” Fudd said. “I don’t think it’s fully sunk in
WNBA draft: Azzi Fudd goes No 1, UCLA smash record and Flau’jae Johnson traded – as it happened
And with that, the draft is complete. Thanks for joining me. A big night for No 1 pick Azzi Fudd, the record-setting UCLA Bruins, the Washington Mystics and their six (!) picks, fashion and the future of women’s basketball.With that, all eyes turn to 8 May, the first day of the season. We’ll have an opening-night triple-header: Connecticut Sun v New York Liberty, Washington Mystics v Toronto Tempo, Golden State Valkyries v Seattle Storm
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The latest edition of Wisden is unsparing in its criticism of England’s Test team, describing their Ashes defeat in Australia as a “wing-and-a-prayer” campaign that ended up “feckless, reckless and legless”.Published this Thursday, the sport’s longstanding bible has a strong Indian flavour to its awards. Haseeb Hameed, captain of title-winning Nottinghamshire, is the sole Englishman among the five players of the year, with Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Siraj recognised for their roles in last year’s memorable 2-2 Test series draw in England.But the nature of England’s 4-1 defeat in Australia – a tour derailed by a poor buildup, lurching tactics, and accusations of an unprofessional approach off the field – leads this year’s notes, with the editor, Lawrence Booth, saying it is “hard to think of a privilege so carelessly squandered, a chance so blithely spurned”.Booth writes: “Much of the misery was self-inflicted: from the paper-thin preparation, via a string of schoolboy dismissals, to the revelation of Harry Brook’s scrape with a nightclub bouncer in New Zealand
Rory McIlroy says preparation at ‘home course’ Augusta aided Masters defence
Rory McIlroy has explained how weeks of preparation at “home course” Augusta National after advice from Jack Nicklaus played a substantial role in his successful Masters defence.Rather than play in PGA Tour events in the lead up to the Masters and despite a back injury causing him competitive disruption, McIlroy spent considerable time at Augusta in the lead-up to the Masters. On one occasion, it is understood he played the front nine in 29 when playing with a single ball.After seeing off Scottie Scheffler by a stroke, the Northern Irishman and now six-time major winner pointed towards his deliberate buildup. “I joked last week that this place feels like my home course,” said McIlroy before leaving Augusta
County cricket: Anderson stars as Lancashire win thriller against Derbyshire – as it happened
Jimmy Anderson peeled back the years with every neat and tidy stride from the James Anderson End, poetically butterflying Derbyshire at Old Trafford.It was a day of high drama from start to finish, with Ben Aitchison grabbing two wickets in the first over of the day, much to the surprise of the Lancashire No 10, Mitchell Stanley, who was still doing himself up and dropping gloves on his way to the middle.Derbyshire were finally set 138 to win, which felt possible, though Caleb Jewell, who has a blind spot against Lancashire, was out in the second over. From then on, it was nip and tuck, until Anderson started his second spell. Just 4
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