Consumer card spending in furniture stores fell during October when compared to last year, says new data from Barclays.

According to the latest Barclays Consumer Spending Index, which includes both debit and credit cards, furniture store spending growth decreased 1%, while transaction growth was up 5.7% against the same month last year.

Home improvement and DIY stores saw spending growth fall 7.7%, with transaction growth was down 10.9%. Department stores saw spending growth increase 4.7%, with transaction growth up by 7.7%. Discount stores saw an increase of 0.3% in spend growth, while transaction growth was down 0.4%, and Garden centres experienced a decline of 4.1% in spend growth and a decrease of 3.1% in transaction growth.

Overall, consumer card spending grew 0.7% year-on-year in October – less than September’s increase (1.2%) and below the latest CPIH inflation rate of 2.6%. Growth was propped up by spending on non-essential items, which climbed 2.1%, driven by the strong performance of entertainment, up 13.5%, and the recovery of retail, which recorded its third consecutive month of growth.

Karen Johnson, Head of Retail at Barclays, said: “The days may be getting darker and longer, but Brits continue to find the bright spots by prioritising the things they love.

“The drumbeat of incredible music artists performing here in the UK, such as Coldplay, means entertainment spending continues to climb, having reached 13.5 per cent growth in October. Meanwhile, the small screen continues to draw Brits to cosier evenings in, cutting back on evenings out at pubs, bars, and restaurants, instead enjoying streaming and shopping from the comfort of home.

“We’ll be keeping a close on whether consumer confidence holds in November and in the run up to Christmas.”