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Irish consumer spending returns to growth in March

Written by Robert McHugh, on 17th Apr 2019. Posted in General

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Visa has today released its latest Consumer Spending Index which measures expenditure across all payment types (cash, cheques and electronic payments).

The index signalled a positive end to the first quarter of 2019 with regards to consumer spending. Household expenditure was up +2.7% year-on-year in March, after having ticked down in February (-0.6%). 
 
While spending increased to the greatest extent in five months, the rate of growth was still weaker than the average seen since the series began in September 2014. Moreover, weakness in January and February meant that the first quarter saw only a +0.8% year-on-year rise in spending, the slowest increase in the near five-year quarterly series. 
 
The return to growth of overall expenditure mainly reflected signs of revival on the high street, with Face-to-Face expenditure up for the first time since last October (+2.0% year-on-year). Spending via eCommerce also increased in March, although the rise of +4.0% was the slowest in six months.

The timing of the Easter holidays compared to last year impacted on sector performance during March, as the splits are not adjusted for seasonal factors. Household Goods posted the strongest expansion in March, seeing spending rise at a substantial pace of +16.6% year-on-year. Marked increases were also recorded in Health & Education (+9.9%) and Hotels, Restaurants & Bars (+7.1%).

Recreation & Culture spending was up +4.0%, while both the Clothing & Footwear (+1.3%) and Transport & Communication (+4.2%) categories saw returns to growth at the end of Q1.The only two sectors to register declines in spending were Food & Beverages (-1.7%) and Miscellaneous Goods & Services (-4.2%).
 
Commenting on the index, Ireland Country Manager at Visa, Philip Konopik said, "As the first quarter comes to a close, March saw a return to growth for Irish consumer spending. St. Patrick’s Day provided a welcome boost as the Hotels, Bars & Restaurants and Recreation & Culture sectors both experienced a rise in household expenditure as the public celebrated the national holiday. There was also a spike in expenditure on Household Goods, which rose at its fastest rate since November 2015." 
 
Source: www.businessworld.ie 

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