Consumers spent 2% more on travel this September than they did last year, and 3.2% more with travel agents. It comes after the sector returned to growth last month for the first time since February.

Travel-specific transactions increased by 1.1% in September, according to Barclays' latest Consumer Spend Report, while agents saw a 5.5% year-on-year uptick in transactions.

Like travel more broadly, spending with airlines returned to growth in August, going up by 3.5% year-on-year. This momentum continued in September with spending up by 2.2% year-on-year.

And while not categorised as travel, September was a good month too for the hotels, resorts and accommodation sector, which recorded a 2.7% year-on-year increase in spending and 0.4% growth in transactions.

The Barclays data captures consumer card spending during the period from 22 August 2026 to 24 September 2026 and compares it with the corresponding data from 23 August 2025 to 25 September 2025. The bank claims to see nearly 40% of the nation's credit and debit card transactions via its issuing and acquiring businesses.

Card spending, overall, increased by 2% year-on-year in September – broadly similar to August (2.1%) and July (2%). However, these measures remain below the CPIH rate of inflation, which is currently 3.1%.

Accompanying consumer research, based on a survey of 2,000 representative UK adults, also revealed people's confidence in their household finances has climbed to a seven-month high, with 67% telling the bank they felt confident – the highest level since February.

Meanwhile, nearly three-quarters (73%) of respondents said they felt confident in their ability to live within their means, which is also the highest level since February (74%) and came despite a major spike in the cost of diesel.

However, people remain caution with the Budget looming; nearly seven in 10 consumers (68%) said they were concerned about what the Chancellor's annual statement might mean for their household finances, with 61% worried about possible changes to tax.

Rohan Kumar, Head of Spend Insights at Barclays, said: "Spending maintained momentum in September, with growth across both essential and non-essential categories as confidence in household finances reached a seven-month high.

"Warmer weather supported another strong month for hospitality and leisure, while the rise in digital subscriptions suggests consumers are balancing socialising with autumn nights at home, even as pre-Budget uncertainty keeps value and careful decision-making front of mind."