Brits spend £1,790 on fashion

Wednesday, 25 October 2006 12:00

Britons spend on average £1,790 per household each year on clothes and shoes, 21 per cent more than ten years ago.

That is according to new research from Halifax Credit Cards, which shows the UK spent £43.7 billion on clothing and footwear last year.

This works out at £34.42 a week for every household in the UK. In 1995 the figure was £21.98 per household.

But as well as spending 21 per cent more in real terms, Britons are getting more for their money than a decade ago.

Figures from Halifax show the cost of clothing and footwear has fallen 21 per cent in the last ten years - seeing the nation's wardrobes bulging.

But this increased spend is not proving as harmful to the UK's wallets as it might. While the amount of money spent is increasing, the proportion of disposable income that goes on clothes and shoes has actually fallen from six per cent to five as the nation has become better off.

And for those seeking even better value, Halifax notes that using the right card when updating wardrobes can save you over £80.

"We can spend ages choosing the right outfit and we should take the same care and consideration when deciding how to pay for it," said Peter Jackson, head of products at Halifax.

"That garment may appear to be a bargain but this can be far from the truth if you are still paying interest on it months later."

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