Greene King spend tracker shows rise in consumer confidence

The latest Leisure Spend Tracker to August 2015, from pub company Greene King, has found a growth in consumer confidence, with a rise in spending on eating out in the past year.

However, spending on drinking out of the house actually fell slightly compared to last year's report, as did spend by families with children.

The average British household spent £222 on out of home leisure in the month of August, the report showed, an increase of £1 year-on-year, and a £17 rise month-on-month. The average household spend in August for eating out was £89.32, a 2% increase year-on-year, compared with £44.35 for drinking out spend, a 2% decrease year-on-year.

Greene King attributed these positive results to a recovered confidence in the economy and continued low Bank of England interest rates, alongside fast-growing wages (at the fastest rate in the past six years) and a resultant improvement in consumers' disposable incomes. It also said that the August bank holiday weekend had added a marked boost to people's spending.

There was a marked difference between families with kids and those without.

The appeal of restaurants to children has also impacted wet-led establishments, who may inadvertently be putting off more traditional pub and bar customers by changing their offer to appeal to families and children.

Commenting on the results, Fiona Gunn, Greene King marketing director, said: "The strongest growth in real earnings for a number of years is no doubt playing a lead role in sustaining the upward trend in consumer confidence that we've seen throughout the year. Reflecting this, August was another month in which spending on out of home leisure crept upward year-on-year, with the now familiar sight of eating out leading the charge."

Wet weather contributes to higher spend on eating out >>
Household spend on eating out continues to rise >>