World Cup and sunshine prompt UK consumers to splash out on beer and online shopping

The brief

Relentless sunshine and the World Cup coaxed consumers to spend more on beer and online shopping last month, with purse strings expected to remain loose as England fans gear up for Wednesday’s semi-final. Most people remain pessimistic about the UK economy, according to data from Barclays Bank based on debit and credit card transactions. However, the start of the summer’s football helped consumers put their worries to one side and indulge in pints of beer, paddling pools and handheld electric fans, with almost half of the latter expected to end up in landfill. Spending increased by 1.9% year on year in June, still below the 3% rate of consumer inflation…