We’re all going to the gym... and the pub
IT seems we’re keeping to our New Year resolutions this year… well better than last year anyway. For the first two weeks of January, spending in gyms and sports clubs shot upwards compared to the same month last year.
And it’s all spelt out in figures from Bank of Ireland credit and debit card data.
Many people are really focusing on fitness and health, with spending on gyms and fitness clubs up 17% and spending on membership of sports clubs such as golf, tennis and football rising 40% compared to the beginning of 2023.
However, early New Year spending shows we’re not all punishing ourselves. What the banks call ‘social spending’ – that’s mostly pubs – is up 7% on the first two weeks of last year.
Restaurants have seen a bit of a boom too. Spending in this area rose by 9%, with fast food up 6%.
It also seems that ‘going out is the new staying in’ for many, with off-licence spending down by 8% compared to a year ago.
Well, we are known for our love of a good social life and we do have the world’s best pubs.
Movie-lovers flocked to the cinema, with big-screen spending rising by 32% as Ireland was recognised for its film work – just look at all those award nominations. Tasty treats proved popular too with spending up 14% in sweet shops and 13% in bakeries. Consumer spending rose by 9% overall compared to 2023, with shopping in Galway leading the way in the spending stakes thanks to 13% rise, followed by Longford (11%), Wicklow (10%), Kildare, Kerry, Mayo and Westmeath (all 9%).
Bank of Ireland’s Jilly Clarkin said: ‘New Year, new you has definitely taken off for many, with a significant year-on-year spike in spending on gyms and sports clubs. But spending in the first two weeks of January is actually a mixed picture, as consumers also sought to keep the festive spirit alive and enjoyed themselves in pubs and restaurants.’
However, she also raised a sceptical eyebrow about whether we’ll keep up the health kick.
‘It will be interesting to see if the focus on health and fitness turns out to be a marathon or a sprint, and if those best intentions fall by the wayside as the year progresses,’ Ms Clarkin said.