Bank of Ireland reported spending on hotels and other accommodation was up 10.5pc in their report on Irish consumer spending for April 2025. Overall retail spend reached €1.3bn.
Spending increased across multiple sectors, including restaurants, groceries, entertainment, and hotels.
The timing of Easter, which fell entirely in April this year, contributed to a seasonal boost in consumer expenditure.
Digital payment adoption continues to trend upwards, as ATM withdrawals saw a decrease of over 5pc in the first quarter of the year.
Bank of Ireland’s chief economist Conall Mac Coille noted that spending growth outpaced the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate of 2.2%, indicating real gains in consumption:
“The €3.7bn spent on Bank of Ireland credit and debit cards in April was 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 2.2pc, embodying substantial real gains in consumption.”
