The nation’s credit and debit card spend at pet retailers and vets has increased by nearly 30% in the past two years.
Barclaycard, which sees nearly half of the nation’s credit and debit card transactions, analysed the period December 25, 2020-November 22, 2021 compared to the same period in 2018-19 and found that the card spend in the pet care category had grown by 29.1%.
Consumer spending on cards increased 5.9% overall in 2021 compared to 2019, fuelled by demand for convenience, online shopping and home improvements. While Covid-19 continued to hamper the hospitality and leisure sector, social distancing restrictions spurred the rising popularity of “insperiences” and outdoor pursuits, the company reports.
Online retail recorded strong growth of 63.2% during the two-year period, compared to a rise of just 0.6% for face-to-face retail spending.
Jose Carvalho, Head of Consumer Products at Barclaycard, said: “2021 was another challenging year, as the pandemic continued to hamper the UK economy. However, some categories continued to do well, thanks to Brits’ demand for convenient, local, and at-home shopping experiences.
“With more time spent working from home, Brits continued to invest in their households, resulting in strong growth for both DIY and pet stores.”
