Kate English

So AIB card spending data released today and what we saw in it was a 10% year on year increase in September 2025.

But there was huge variations within that spending on groceries is up about 3%, entertainment 12% and ticket sales 45%.

If you can guess what drove ticket sales in September?

I don't know.

Electric picnic sales.

Already?

Electric picnic tickets went on sale the day after electric picnic finished and we saw a big spike on the 3rd of September.

There was also an increase in it when we look at the largest selling days for tourism and exhibits.

It was on the 16th and the 17th of the month as people flocked to one of the largest trade shows in Europe in the country.

The National Ploughing Championship.

And ticket sales were led from customers from Cork to Brary, Galway, Limerick and Offaly, clearly the big attenders at the Ploughing Championship.

No, not listed in the press release by AIB.

It wasn't all good news, though, when we look at its spending in pubs, fell by about 26% month on month, their data reported, and out 17% year on year.

But overall, I suppose this spending data is reflective of wider consumer activity data that we're seeing across the economy from retail sales data to central bank card spending data as well.

That despite, I suppose, those cost pressures that are there...

As of yesterday, we got that out.

Yes, correct.

That we still have a consumer who is spending.

But I suppose when we look down into different segments of it, they are spending more in different areas.

Yeah.