Economic Activity And Social Change In The UK - Real-time Indicators - 28 March 2024

29th March 2024

n the latest week, aggregate UK spending on credit and debit cards fell by 3% and is now 5% lower than the level in the equivalent week of 2023. Meanwhile, overall retail footfall increased to 103% of the level of the previous week and 102% of the level in the equivalent week of 2023 (Bank of England CHAPS, MRI OnLocation). Section 3: Consumer behaviour.

The total number of online job adverts on 22 March 2024 was 3% lower than the previous week and 20% below the level seen in the equivalent period of 2023; this is following the downward trend in online job adverts seen from February 2022 onwards (Adzuna). Section 4: Business and workforce.

The System Price of electricity decreased by 24% in the week to 24 March 2024, while the System Average Price (SAP) of gas increased by 6%; however, both remained lower than the levels in the equivalent week of 2023, by 46% and 30% respectively (Elexon, National Gas Transmission) Section 5: Energy.

In the latest week, the average traffic camera activity for cars in London increased by 3%, the average number of daily ship visits increased by 1% and the daily average number of UK flights remained broadly unchanged when compared with the previous week (Transport for London, exactEarth, EUROCONTROL) Section 6: Transport.

Read the full ONS report HERE