The much coveted Labubu toy was a hit in 2025 (AFP\/Getty) <\/p>\n
Bucket hats, strawberries and cream sandwiches, and Greggs sausage rolls drenched in KFC gravy defined British consumer spending this year.<\/p>\n
We explore the nation’s purchases, month by month.<\/p>\n
An average temperature of 3C as well as Storm Eowyn bringing 100mph winds and a danger to life to the UK has consumers largely staying indoors. Spending on digital content and subscriptions increased 8.3 per cent year-on-year and growth in spending on takeaways hit a year-long high of 5.1 per cent, according to Barclays.<\/p>\n
However, alongside this, online purchases of exercise equipment rise by 60 per cent on the month before, according to Adobe<\/a>, while spending on supplements including multivitamin powders and pills increases by 26 per cent and sales of fruit and vegetables rise by 24 per cent.<\/p>\n More than a quarter of UK adults (27 per cent) plan to focus more on healthy eating as the warmer weather approaches. One in three (30 per cent) say they are paying closer attention to ingredient and nutrition labels and a fifth (22 per cent) have considered, or are already growing, their own fruit and vegetables at home.<\/p>\n This comes as 27 per cent say they are more likely to visit shops and restaurants that offer \u201chealthier\u201d options, increasing to 45 per cent of those aged 18-24. Sought-after alternatives include zero-sugar treats (33 per cent), organic or whole foods (29 per cent) and low or no alcohol drinks (24 per cent).<\/p>\n Easter eggs have gone up in price by as much as 50 per cent on last year while shrinking in size, according to Which? \u2013 the result of the price of chocolate rising by 16.5 per cent in a year.<\/p>\n Women experiencing perimenopause and menopause are spending an average \u00a31,800 a year on products such as vitamins and smart watches to combat symptoms such as fatigue and hot flushes, a survey suggests.<\/p>\n Some 76 per cent of women are buying vitamins and minerals, 52 per cent have bought supplements and 40 per cent have spent money on hormone support to help manage symptoms, the poll for buy now, pay later service Clearpay found.<\/p>\n The so-called \u201cawful April\u201d price hikes combined with high energy costs see the average household facing an annual increase of \u00a31,254 from essential bill rises, according to figures from comparison site Uswitch.<\/p>\n The third consecutive increase to Ofgem\u2019s price cap sees the bill of a typical household paying by direct debit rise 6.4 per cent, an increase of \u00a3111 a year or \u00a39.25 a month after it went up by 10 per cent in October and another 1.2 per cent rise in January.<\/p>\n This is 9.4 per cent or \u00a3159 higher than this time last year but \u00a3531 or 22 per cent lower than at the height of the energy crisis at the start of 2023.<\/p>\n The competition watchdog announces that British vets could face a temporary price cap over concerns that pet owners are being ripped off.<\/p>\n The Competition and Markets Authority is looking into the veterinary industry after 56,000 people raised concerns about the sector, including that they are overpaying for medicines and prescriptions and are not being given basic information such as price lists and prescription costs.<\/p>\n Easter Eggs were more expensive in 2025 than 2024 (PA) <\/p>\n