Card payments in pet services increased by a third since pandemic began, new UK data shows
New figures revealed that British consumers spent more on veterinary and pet retailers in the last two years, coinciding with the start of the pandemic and the rise in the pet population.
A consumer card spending report from global payment business Barclaycard concluded that UK households spent between December 2020-November 2021 up to 29.1% more on their pets than in the period December 2018-November 2019.
Kennel’s sales saw an 8.8% increase in 2021 year-on-year, while veterinary services card transactions grew by 16.1%.
Jose Carvalho, Head of Consumer Products at Barclaycard, said that this increase is because Brits spent more time working from home and investing in their households.
Global figures from card transactions in the UK showed that spending on essential items rose 11.1% in 2021, while online retailing increased 87.7%.
The American Pet Products Association concluded that pet parents spent 35% more on their pet supplies in the past year, including food, wellness-related products, and other pet care items.
Data from financial company Sensibill related to consumer behavior revealed that overall spending within the pets category in the US and Canada increased by 143% as of June 2021.
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