11 August 2015

Treating the family to days out at theme parks, cinema trips and meals out helped drive a healthy growth in consumer spending during July, new figures show.

According to Visa Europe's UK Expenditure Index, the amount of money forked out by consumers in July was 1.9% higher than it was 12 months earlier.

It also outstripped the average monthly growth recorded during the first six months of 2015.

Kevin Jenkins, Visa Europe's managing director for the UK and Ireland, says the growth is down to the increase in leisure spending, which coincided with the start of the summer holiday season.

The biggest growth in spending was seen in the sector which includes restaurants, hotels and pubs.

People spent 8.6% more in that sector than they did in July 2014, according to the index which has been put together by Markit.

Consumers spent 5.6% more on recreation and culture.

This article was written by the Press Association, for Legal & General. Please note the views expressed in this article are not necessarily the views of Legal & General and its group of companies.

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