POUND NOTES

HEAD TO GLASGOW FOR HAIR AND BEAUTY TREATMENT BARGAINS

GLASGOW has been identified as the UK’s beauty bargain capital, with popular treatments potentially costing 17% less than the national average.

In Belfast, treatments also tended to cost less than the UK average, while in Cardiff they typically cost slightly more, according to the research from Direct Line for Business.

London was the costliest UK city the research revealed, with treatments there typically costing 20% more than the average.

HOUSEHOLDS FEELING THE SQUEEZE AS CONSUMER SPENDING FALLS

CONSUMER spending fell for the third month in a row in July, marking the biggest period of decline since 2013, a report has found.

Spending fell by 0.8% in July compared with the same month a year ago, following similar year-onyear declines in May and June, according to Visa’s UK Consumer Spending Index.

It said the figures are further evidence households are feeling the squeeze from rising prices and stagnant wage growth.

NEW RECORD FOR CARD PAYMENTS REACHED

NEARLY 1.4 billion card payments were made in June, marking a monthly record high, according to a trade body.

UK Finance said the number of payments had grown by 12% over the previous 12 months, the highest annual rate of growth since June 2008.

Contactless payments accounted for 34% of all card transactions across the UK, while online payments accounted for 13%.