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Shopper Sentiment Survey

Understand what’s driving consumer spending & influencing retail trends

Our Shopper Sentiment Survey gives you insights into…

Shopper Sentiment Survey - Retail Economics
  • Expectations about personal finances
  • Changes in attitudes towards savings & job security
  • Expenditure intentions in the coming quarter
  • Levels of credit card debt
  • Perceptions on the strength of the UK economy
  • Online shopper trends

Deeply understand shopper behaviour & how it contextualises hard economic data and influences retail trends within the industry

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Shopper Sentiment Survey Archive

Shopper Sentiment Survey October 2024

Published October 2024

Consumer sentiment remains cautious, with economic and personal finance expectations showing limited optimism. Fewer people anticipate economic improvement, and concerns around personal finances have increased, reflecting elevated worries over inflation and rising rent and mortgage repayments. More consumers expect to save less in the coming months, indicating a shift towards cautious financial management. Despite these concerns, there’s a small increase in the number planning to spend more on non-essential items during the final months of the year, suggesting a restrained but hopeful outlook for discretionary spending amid financial pressures. 

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Shopper Sentiment Survey April 2024

Published April 2024

Spending intentions continue to be influenced by a complex blend of economic perceptions and financial anxieties. Our latest barometer on consumer sentiment shows that under a fifth of consumers are expecting the economy to strengthen in the next three months, weakening since the start of the year. Additionally, over half (54%) of consumers said they have some concerns with their personal financial situation in April, edging up since January as inflation remains sticky. Consumers are set to remain cautious, with just over two-fifths looking to spend less on non-essentials in the next three months. This presents opportunities for businesses to innovate and tailor offerings to meet evolving consumer needs and preferences.

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Shopper Sentiment Survey January 2024

Published January 2024

Our latest barometer on consumer sentiment shows that around a quarter of consumers are cautiously optimistic about the economy's potential strengthening in the next three months. This sentiment extends to personal finances, with almost a quarter hoping for improvement. Although three-quarters indicate increased caution in spending, 46% adhered to non-essential spending intentions during the golden quarter, showcasing commendable budget control amid ongoing economic uncertainties.

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Shopper Sentiment Survey October 2023

Published October 2023

Our latest barometer on consumer sentiment shows that while around a fifth of consumers hold a relatively optimistic view that the economy will strengthen in the final quarter, just under half remain cautious, expecting a weakening. This mixed sentiment extends to personal finances, with an increasing number of individuals (42%) expressing concern about their financial stability in the next three months, which is expected to weigh on consumer spending in the all-important golden quarter.

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Shopper Sentiment Survey July 2023

Published July 2023

Amid an environment of cautious optimism, sentiment remains mixed with little change in consumers outlook for the economy in July compared with the previous quarter. Worries about personal financial situations are on the rise while credit card debt levels are also troubling many consumers, with a step up in the number facing difficulty in making their minimum repayments. Forward-looking spending intentions remain cautious as a result, with half of consumers indicating they will spend less on non-essentials over the next quarter.

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Shopper Sentiment Survey April 2023

Published April 2023

Sentiment about the economy improved markedly in April following an improvement in forecasts for the UK economy with a recession now unlikely. Despite these improvements, consumers are still cautious about their spending habits over the last three months, while concerns about credit card debt levels remain elevated. Consumers don’t feel they are out of the woods yet and are acting accordingly with just under half indicating they would spend less on non-essential items over the next quarter.

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Shopper Sentiment Survey January 2023

Published January 2023

Sentiment about the economy remains weak as consumers continue to feel the pressures of the cost of living crisis. Resultantly, 77% of respondents admitted to becoming more cautious about their spending habits over the last three months, little changed from the previous quarter. Inflation remains the top concern, with 57% of respondents citing it as their primary worry. Against this backdrop, many consumers are planning to cut back on non-essential spending. Over three-fifths of consumers indicated they would spend less on non-essential items over the next quarter, easing slightly from October.

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Shopper Sentiment Survey October 2022

Published October 2022

Sentiment about the economy weakened significantly in the third quarter of 2022. The pressures of the cost of living crisis have taken their toll on British consumers, with 76% of respondents admitting that they have become more cautious about their spending habits over the last three months. Fears about inflation and rising interest rates have additionally dampened hopes for the future of the economy, with almost three quarters of consumers expecting it to weaken over the next three months. Against this harsh backdrop, almost two-thirds of consumers indicated they would spend less on non-essential items over the next quarter.

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Shopper Sentiment Survey July 2022

Published July 2022

Sentiment about the economy remained weak against the backdrop of a challenging consumer environment. Consumers anxieties about rising inflation remained elevated as headline inflation surged, hitting a 40-year high in June. With growing pressure on household incomes, consumers fears about their lack of savings stepped up. Resultantly, spending intentions remained weak with over half of consumers indicating they will spend less on non-essential items over the next quarter.

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Shopper Sentiment Survey April 2022

Published April 2022

Sentiment about the economy deteriorated in April compared with the last quarter as the consumer environment weakened. Fears about rising inflation soared amongst consumers as headline inflation reached its highest level in at least 30 years putting considerable pressure on household budgets. Resultantly, spending intentions worsened with over half of consumers indicating they will spend less on non-essential items over the next quarter.

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Shopper Sentiment Survey January 2022

Published January 2022

Sentiment about the economy improved in January compared with the last quarter despite a weaker consumer environment. Fears about rising inflation edged higher as headline inflation soared at the end of last year with further rises expected in 2022. This growing pressure on household budgets is weighing on spending intentions with almost half of consumers indicating they would spend less on non-essential items over the next quarter.

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Shopper Sentiment Survey October 2021

Published October 2021

Pessimism grew amongst consumers in October, with sentiment about the economy and personal finances deteriorating over the last quarter. Falling optimism coincided with growing fears about rising inflation which reached a record high. Brexit and the Coronavirus are also weighing on sentiment. Despite these pressures, almost a quarter of consumers indicated they were willing to spend more on non-essential items over the next quarter, perhaps to make Christmas extra special this year given the disruption a year ago. 
 

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Shopper Sentiment Survey July 2021

Published July 2021

Optimism amongst consumers weakened in July, with sentiment about the economy and personal finances falling over the last quarter. Increased pessimism coincided with rising anxiety around the coronavirus as case numbers rose and Covid-19 restrictions were extended. Notably, rising inflation was also a growing concern for consumers. Resultantly, expectations about the future strength of consumer spending softened with just 15% of consumers indicating that they would spend more on non-essential items over the next quarter, falling from 25% in April 2021.

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Shopper Sentiment Survey - April 2021

Published April 2021

Optimism amongst consumers improved in April. Anxiety around the pandemic has fallen considerably since the start of the year as the coronavirus has subsided and lockdown restrictions slowly eased. Looking ahead, spending intentions are strong for the coming quarter with a quarter of consumers indicating they would be spending more on non-essential items over the next three months, perhaps boosted by the re-opening of non-essential retail stores on April 12.

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