Easter boosts Irish consumer spending in April
Accommodation spending increased by 10.5%, reflecting strong domestic and international tourism during the Easter break
Irish consumer spending surged in April, with card outlay by Bank of Ireland customers up 8.3% – a notable acceleration from March’s 5.9% increase. The timing of Easter, which fell entirely in April this year, played a key role in driving this increase.
Social spending saw a particularly robust rebound, up 7.1% year-on-year, with restaurant spending jumping 8.2% following a sluggish first quarter. Retail and services spending were both strong, rising by 5.4% and 5.9% respectively.
Spending on Bank of Ireland debit and credit cards reflected this momentum, with €1.3 billion spent on retail, €700 million on services, €340 million on social activities, and approximately €500 million withdrawn from ATMs. While ATM withdrawals remained flat in April, they were down over 5% in Q1 compared to the same period in 2024, continuing the trend toward digital payments.
Despite a dip in consumer confidence to a two-year low, spending on big-ticket items remained resilient. Hotel spending surged 10%, electrical goods rose 9.1% and hardware was up 5.3%. Grocery spending also climbed 7.3% to €613 million, while accommodation spending increased by 10.5%, reflecting strong domestic and international tourism during the Easter break.
Social categories saw a welcome lift, with entertainment spending up 6.2% to €98 million and dining and drinking out up 8.2% to €222 million. Notably, cinema spending soared 43% year-on-year, while tourist attractions and spa services both saw 26% increases—likely aided by belated Mother’s Day celebrations.
Commenting on the figures, Bank of Ireland’s chief economist Conall MacCoille, said: “Irish consumers may have been nervous about US tariffs and a more uncertain economic outlook in April, but the hit to sentiment hasn’t been sufficient to alter key spending decisions. The €3.7 bn spent on Bank of Ireland credit and debit cards in April was up 8.3% on the year, an acceleration from March. True, the timing of Easter gave a seasonal lift, but there was broad based growth across a range of sectors, from groceries and entertainment to hotels and hardware. Furthermore, spending growth is now well in excess of CPI inflation at 2.2%, embodying substantial real gains in consumption.”
