UK unlocked

From social media to spending on experiences: Karen Johnson, Head of Retail at Barclays, sheds light on the purchasing patterns of Gen Z – and explains why a strong social strategy is crucial for retailers striving to attract this digitally native cohort.

Retail continued to recover in October amid widespread promotional activity, boosted by online shopping and the strong performance of clothing and department stores.

Karen Johnson, Head of Retail at Barclays, explores why the final stretch of summer saw a rise in feel-good spending, and what might be in store as we head into the Golden Quarter.

Consumer card spending increased 1.2 per cent year-on-year in September, after returning to growth in August.

Barclays research suggests that 15% of young people have been targeted by ‘mule herders’. Lending Fraud Director Neil Scriven breaks down the rise of this worrying trend.

As freshers week kicks off across the UK, the latest Barclays Scams Bulletin reveals how scammers are targeting students and young people.

The total number of businesses in the UK has grown for the sixth consecutive quarter. Hannah Bernard, Head of Business Banking at Barclays looks at the reasons behind this growth.

Our latest research shows removing unnecessary frictions for high growth companies looking to graduate into main markets could drive dynamism and agility within UK capital markets.

Encouraging a stronger retail investing market in the UK is important both for the economy and for individual financial empowerment. A new Barclays report makes five policy recommendations that could help address the market failures that prevent consumers from investing.

Read in more detail about the findings and recommendations in our ‘Are there UK savers who could become investors that grow the UK economy?' report.

Mark Arnold, Head of Savings and Mortgages at Barclays UK, shares the bank’s latest property insights – and explores what is on the horizon for rental and mortgage customers. 

Consumer confidence has increased following the base rate reduction, with 70 per cent confident in their household finances, up from 65 per cent in July.

Grocery spending saw its highest uplift since March, fuelled by a surge in shopping for picnic and barbecue foods at specialist stores.

The latest Barclays Property Insights report reveals that rising mortgage costs were offset by falling energy bills in July.

The Euros propped up pubs and bars, with transactions tripling on the day of the final.

Barclays conducted a review to better understand what actions by local government would be most powerful in helping local businesses secure equity investment across the UK.

Vim Maru, Barclays UK’s Chief Executive, explains how cooler temperatures can make a huge difference to people’s lives – and play a big role in shaping spending patterns.

Barclays is issuing a warning to those looking for love this summer, as the Bank’s latest data reveals romance scams are on the rise, with the amount claimed in May/June up 139% compared to March/April 2024.