Shoppers splurge on shopping for British in a bid to assist small companies

Shoppers spent more on products made in Britain last month, as small businesses reckoned with the impact of Trump’s tariffs.

Seven in 10 shoppers want to support local businesses by buying more home-grown products, with one in eight willing to pay a premium, Barclays latest consumer spending report found.

Shoppers are putting their money where their mouth is. In April, spending at butchers, delis and fishmongers increased by 11.4 per cent as shoppers prioritise home-grown products.

The report also found that nearly half of shoppers plan to buy more of or switch to buying British fruit and vegetables, followed by dairy and meat (both 39 per cent) and seafood (29 per cent).

Warmer weather and the long Easter weekend meant more shoppers visited the British high street too, with in-store retail spending 6.9 per cent in April after a 1.9 per cent year-on-year decline in March.

Buying British: Shoppers are willing to spend more on local ‘home-grown’ produce 

The overall hospitality and leisure sector saw 6.7 per cent growth – its highest since 2023 – while spending at bars, pubs and clubs reached a 16-month high, up 6.6 per cent.

Garden centres had a bumper month, with spending up 25 per cent versus the same period last year. 

Home improvements and DIY shops saw a 4 per cent increase in spending, which Barclays is likely due to the recent changes to stamp duty thresholds.

The bank’s figures show a 50 per cent surge in mortgage completions in March, as buyers rushed to complete before the stamp duty hike.

Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, said: ‘April’s sunny weather inspired consumers to embrace the best of Britain, with all retail, hospitality, and leisure subcategories in growth for the first time in over five years.

‘While the long-term impact of any tariffs on household finances remains to be seen, given Thursday’s announcement of a UK/US trade deal, shoppers are demonstrating a commitment to supporting British business, while still carefully managing their money.’

Overall, consumer card spending beat inflation and grew 4.5 per cent year-on-year in April, its fastest rate in nearly two years.

Despite fears over the impact of tariffs on household finances, overall confidence remains resilient at 70 per cent. 

This was best reflected in the 5.1 per cent year-on-year growth in non-esssential spending, nearly double March’s 2.2 per cent increase.