conomic activity and social change in the UK, real-time indicators 13 March 2025

14th March 2025

In the week to 9 March 2025, overall retail footfall remained broadly unchanged when compared with the previous week but was 1% higher when compared with the equivalent week of 2024. High street footfall increased by 3% when compared with the previous week, while retail park and shopping centre footfall decreased by 2% and 3%, respectively (MRI OnLocation).

During the month of February 2025, when compared with the previous month, the seasonally adjusted Direct Debit failure rate increased by 2% and the average transaction amount increased by 1% (Vocalink, Pay.UK).

Total Revolut debit card spending for February 2025 decreased by 6% when compared with the previous month, with notable declines in the services sector (22%), shopping sector (7%), utilities sector (5%), and health sector (5%); when compared with February 2024, total debit card spending increased by 2% (Revolut).

In our latest Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN) most people reported that during February 2025, their cost of living had increased (59%) or stayed the same (39%) when compared with January 2025; only 2% of people reported a decrease in their cost of living (initial findings for February 2025 from our OPN, publishing on 21 March 2025).

Of businesses currently trading, most reported that turnover in February 2025 stayed the same (51%) or decreased (26%) when compared with the previous month; only 14% of businesses reported that turnover increased, while 9% of businesses were unsure (initial weighted results from Wave 128 of the Business Insights and Conditions Survey).

The System Average Price (SAP) of gas decreased by 8% to 3.392 pence per kilowatt hour (p/kWh) in the week to 9 March 2025 when compared with the previous week, while the System Price of electricity decreased by 6% to 8.577 p/kWh; when compared with the equivalent week of 2024, the SAP of gas and System Price of electricity increased by 44% and 25%, respectively (Elexon, National Gas Transmission).

In the week to 9 March 2025, the number of ship visits to major UK ports was broadly unchanged compared with the previous week; when compared with the equivalent week of 2024, ship visits to major UK ports increased by 3% (exactEarth).

In the week to 9 March 2025, the seasonally adjusted number of daily UK flights increased by 1% when compared with the previous week; when compared with the equivalent week of 2024, the number of daily flights also increased by 1% (EUROCONTROL).

See more at
https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/economicoutputandproductivity/output/bulletins/economicactivityandsocialchangeintheukrealtimeindicators/13march2025