Mastercard: the start of school boosts retail traffic across Europe
According to Mastercard SpendingPulse™, which measures in-store and online retail sales, total retail sales are expected to increase in the first few weeks of back-to-school compared to last year – driven by both rising prices and consumer demand.

In particular, the clothing sector is expanding
Considering the period between August 15 and September 16, which is mainly defined by the start of school, a significant annual increase in traffic is expected, especially in Spain, the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom, where 13%, 10% and 9% respectively expansion compared to 2021, while in Hungary the sector will strengthen by 0.3%. While shopping in brick-and-mortar stores is gaining new momentum on an annual basis in these weeks, e-commerce growth remains high compared to the pre-pandemic period.
“The start of school is one of the most important shopping periods for retailers – and also a critical forecast of purchasing power. Based on the Mastercard SpendingPulse, a strong expansion is expected in terms of retail turnover, especially in the clothing sector”
– said Natalia Lechmanova, Mastercard’s chief European economist.
“As inflation remains high, discerning consumers are prioritizing experiences such as restaurants and travel, while cutting back on spending on durable goods such as appliances and furniture.”
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