Furniture store spend and transaction growth declined during June as overall consumer card spending rose.

According to the latest data from Barclaycard, which sees nearly half of the nation’s credit and debit card transactions, total consumer spend growth increased 5.4% during June against the same month last year. This was less than the latest CPIH inflation rate of 7.9%, yet higher than in May (3.6%), as the warm weather encouraged Brits to shop. Transaction growth rose 6.3%.

With the category breakdown, furniture stores saw spend growth decline 7%, while transaction growth fell 7.3%.

Meanwhile, home improvement and DIY stores, including garden centres saw their first growth in over two years as shoppers took advantage of the sunnier weather to spruce up their homes and gardens.

For home improvement retailers, spend growth rose 3.9%, while transaction growth increased 8.8%. Department stores saw spend growth and transaction growth rise 8.6% and 11.7% respectively, while discount stores posted respective growth of 8.8% and 2.8%.

Esme Harwood, Director at Barclaycard, said: “June saw Brits get into the swing of summer, bringing a welcome boost to several sun-starved categories. Pubs & bars benefitted from Brits soaking up the sunshine in beer gardens, while butchers and garden centres saw a jump thanks to the arrival of barbecue season. Even clothing retailers, which have struggled since the start of the cost-of-living crisis, returned to growth, as consumers took advantage of the heat to refresh their summer wardrobes.”