New data from UK card payment provider Dojo, has revealed what Brits are spending the most on following restrictions being fully lifted in June of this year.
Dojo analysed their transaction data to find out how much was spent in each industry pre and post-lockdown, specifically comparing spend in February 2020 to June 2021. The results show which business sectors have seen the biggest uplift in spend and which activities Brits are now flaunting their cash on.
Pets are one of Brits’ favourite post-Covid spending habits with 23% more sales now than pre the pandemic
After analysing their transaction data, Dojo found that there were key areas where Brits were spending the most money now compared to before the first lockdown, and pets was one of these.
Spend in the pets industry, including pet shops and vets, was among one of the nation’s biggest increases post-lockdown
In the UK, there are now ‘3.2 million’ households that own pets than pre the pandemic, so there is no surprise that pet shops and vets are more in demand post-lockdown.
Pet shops have seen a massive 23% uplift in spend post-lockdown, after the increase of pet sales during the pandemic. Pet shops were an essential retailer so were open during the pandemic, so the public prioritised their furry friends during the peak of the pandemic.
Unfortunately, vets were on hold during the pandemic meaning paw-rents couldn't book a face to face appointment unless their pet had serious conditions that required a physical examination. There was also a smaller team on site as staff were advised to work from home where possible, so telephone/video consultations were the new normal. Since the restrictions have lifted and vets have reopened there is no wonder the industry has seen a 17% increase in spend.
The UK now has ‘17 million’ households that own at least one pet and most Brits have said pets helped with their mental health while coping with the downfalls of COVID. Health and wellbeing services were also among the biggest spends post-lockdown in the UK.