Stat: Impulse shopping fuels £64bn ($86.7bn, €74.3bn) retail opportunity

UK – Consumers are spending more and doing so more impulsively, according to a study by Vanquis. The research reveals that Brits now make an average of 42 impulse purchases a year, totalling £944 ($1,269, €1,087) per person, or £64.4bn ($86.7bn, €74.3bn) nationwide.

In our Value Vanguard report, we explored the rise of emotional spending – a key driver behind this shift.

Food and snacks dominate unplanned buys, with 51% of shoppers splurging outside their budget – rising to 66% among 25-34-year-olds. Convenience retailers benefit most from single-serve grab-and-go formats, a behaviour we spotlighted in our Grab-and-Go Cuisine report, while the healthy snacks market is adding fresh momentum.

Fashion follows closely, with 43% of Brits buying clothing on impulse, fuelled by a 13% surge in fast-fashion sales this year. Restaurants, takeaways and cafés capture 31% of spur-of-the-moment spend.

Social media is the accelerant – 56% of Brits say TikTok, Instagram and YouTube influence their purchases, with TikTok Shop doubling its UK sellers in the past year.