England's group stage victory over Panama on 24 June 2026 was the busiest day of the year for UK pubs, with takings five times higher than the daily average, according to Barclays Bank's consumer spending report. The combination of relentless sunshine and the World Cup coaxed consumers to spend more on beer and online shopping, with spending increasing by 1.9% year on year in June, up from 0.8% in May.
Pub takings surge during World Cup matches
Pubs experienced the biggest boost, thanks in part to football fans taking advantage of extended opening hours. England's draw with Ghana resulted in the biggest year-on-year uplift, with card users in pubs spending 244% more than on the same day in 2025. The round of 16 victory over Mexico registered a 201.5% increase, measured over Sunday and Monday due to the early kick-off time. Data from Dojo, a card payments company, showed a 23% increase in takings during England's quarter-final win over Norway compared with the previous Saturday, with Southampton seeing full-day sales almost double.
Economic impact of England's World Cup run
Estimates suggested England's progress to the quarter-final could be worth £385m to the economy, rising to £500m when factoring in all four games in that round. The British Beer and Pub Association predicted the semi-final against Argentina would lead to an extra 6m pints poured, a bigger increase than on New Year's Eve. The Night Time Industries Association forecast an uplift of up to £80m for the sector. However, Barclays noted that most people remain pessimistic about the UK economy, despite the spending boost.
Heatwave drives online shopping and clothing sales
The record-breaking heatwave prompted consumers to overhaul their wardrobes, resulting in a 2.4% increase in clothing sales, while department stores fared particularly well, up 9.7%. However, a separate report from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG indicated that non-food sales in shops declined by 1.1% compared with last June, while online non-food sales jumped by 5.1%, well above the 12-month average growth rate of 1.5%. The online penetration rate climbed to 39% from 37.7% in June 2025.
Retail challenges amid heatwave and economic pressures
Helen Dickinson, BRC chief executive, said: 'Electric fans and paddling pools performed well, as people looked to cool off, while the lure of the sunshine meant that gaming and big-ticket sales struggled. A heatwave doesn't just change how customers shop – it makes retail operations more challenging, from keeping shelves stocked to keeping products and people cool. These pressures come on top of rising business rates, higher employment taxes and ongoing global uncertainty, all of which are squeezing retailers' ability to invest, create jobs and keep prices down.'
