Consumers turn to charity shops, discount retailers and online marketplaces while GAA victories deliver major boost to local hospitality trade.
Irish consumers became increasingly value-conscious in July with spending in charity shops, vintage stores and discount retailers surging as households sought better deals, according to the latest Bank of Ireland Spending Pulse report.
The report also highlighted the economic impact of major sporting celebrations, with All-Ireland victories for Mayo and Limerick generating substantial boosts for local businesses.
“Success for Mayo GAA and Limerick GAA highlights the positive impact major sporting moments can have on communities and local businesses”
While overall online spending fell by 5% compared with July 2025 and in-person card spending remained broadly unchanged, spending patterns revealed a significant shift towards lower-cost shopping options.
Bank of Ireland data showed spending in charity and vintage stores rose by 146% year-on-year. Discount store spending increased by 43%, while spending on online marketplaces such as Amazon climbed by 80%.
Sam for Mayo
Following Mayo’s All-Ireland Football Championship win, celebrations on 26 July and the county’s homecoming events the following day drove a sharp rise in pub spending. Transactions in Castlebar increased by 1,042% compared with the All-Ireland Football Final weekend in 2025. Spending in Westport rose by 350%, while the rest of Mayo recorded an increase of 118%.
Limerick experienced a similar uplift after securing the All-Ireland Hurling title. Celebrations on 19 and 20 July saw pub spending across the county rise by 200% compared with the All-Ireland Hurling Final weekend last year.
Despite overall spending remaining steady, several sectors enjoyed strong growth during July’s warm weather.
Bank of Ireland reported spending increases of 55% on camping and tenting equipment, while confectionery shops saw spending rise by 53%. Car washes recorded growth of 44%, boat leases increased by 21%, and catering services were up by 18% compared with July 2025.
The continued growth of electric vehicle adoption was also reflected in consumer spending patterns. Expenditure on public EV charging nearly doubled, rising by 49% year-on-year.
Spending in pubs and off-licences overall remained relatively unchanged during the month.
“Overall card and online spending were flat in July,” said Gerardo Larios Rizo, head of Hospitality Sector at Bank of Ireland.
“The data shows consumers are more conscious of their budgets, with significant spending increases across charity, vintage and second-hand shops.
“Success for Mayo GAA and Limerick GAA highlights the positive impact major sporting moments can have on communities and local businesses.
“In line with previous months, higher costs of long-haul travel and geopolitical volatility continue to contribute to reduced long-haul travel spending.”
The Spending Pulse report also identified changing travel habits among Irish consumers.
Compared with July 2025, spending in several traditional holiday destinations either declined or remained virtually unchanged. Spending in Turkey increased by just 0.6%, while spending in Spain and France each fell by 3.69%. Portugal recorded a decline of 3.37%.
At the same time, some emerging European destinations experienced strong growth. Spending by Irish consumers in Lithuania increased by 69.48%, while Romania recorded a rise of 13.3% and Estonia saw spending increase by 4.23%.
Long-haul destinations also experienced weaker demand. Spending in the United Arab Emirates fell by 21.31%, while transactions in Japan declined by 16.09%. Spending in New Zealand dropped by 14%, Australia fell by 31.43%, and spending in the United States decreased by 1.96%.
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