Cost of living crisis slows UK consumer spending but holiday bookings take off

BRC says homewares and electrical goods hard hit, while Barclaycard reports rise in travel spending

The UK's soaring cost of living and last month's record increase in household energy bills have slammed the brakes on consumer spending, retail sector figures show.

However, according to separate data, April was the strongest month for international travel spending since before the pandemic, as Britons took advantage of the easing of Covid restrictions to book foreign holidays.