Irish Consumer Spending Climbs 10% on September Spend Trend
September proved to be a milestone month for Irish consumer spending, with a 10 per cent year-on-year rise across in-store and online purchases. The latest spend trend from AIB, based on 75 million transactions, shows how major events captured national attention and wallets—from the National Ploughing Championships to golf and large-scale music festivals—fueling a broad-based uplift in tourism-related spending and everyday expenditure.
Ploughing Championships Drive the Weekend Spending Bonanza
The National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Co Offaly, emerged as the year’s biggest selling days for tourism and exhibitions, with September 16th and 17th highlighted as peak shopping moments. Ticket demand and on-site purchases drew visitors from Cork, Tipperary, Galway, Limerick, and Offaly, underscoring the event’s status as the world’s largest of its kind. This surge in activity illustrates how large-scale agricultural showcases can act as powerful economic catalysts, drawing crowds and prompting substantial local spend across hospitality, retail, and services.
Ryder Cup Celebration Spurs Golf-Related Spending
Golf fans also joined the spending upswing. The early-month triumph of Rory McIlroy at the Irish Open set a confident tone, followed by Team Europe’s Ryder Cup success in New York. AIB notes a 10 per cent year-on-year increase in spending at golf clubs and courses, signaling how major sporting events translate into higher consumer activity—from club shops to travel and ancillary services tied to spectator experiences.
Broader Retail and Entertainment Trends
Across categories, September data show notable movements: spend on groceries rose by 3 per cent, with the average grocery transaction around €24.57. Entertainment purchases climbed by 18 per cent over the year and 7 per cent month-on-month, reflecting a robust appetite for experiences linked to music, sport, and culture. Ticket sales, in particular, surged 45 per cent year-on-year, with September 3rd marking the highest ticket-spending day of the year so far due to Electric Picnic 2026 ticket sales.
Cinema, Digital Games, and Back-to-School Spending
Cinematic outings also contributed to the uptick, with cinema spend up 19 per cent year-on-year as highly anticipated releases resonated with audiences. Digital games spending grew by 25 per cent year-on-year, while electronic goods purchases increased by about 20 per cent—likely linked to back-to-school and college needs. Conversely, hospitality saw mixed results: hotel spending fell 22 per cent month-on-month, pubs declined 26 per cent month-on-month, and restaurant spending slipped 14 per cent month-on-month, even as it remained 6 per cent higher than twelve months prior.
Regional Shifts and Consumer Confidence
Some regions experienced more pronounced declines, notably Kerry (−20%), with Wexford and Donegal following (−19%). While such dips reflect seasonal adjustments and tourism patterns, the overall narrative remains positive, highlighting resilience in consumer sentiment amid global uncertainty. The data also show a strong performance in clothing and department stores, though month-on-month declines suggest shoppers paused to consolidate purchases as the summer season ended.
Executive Insight
Adrian Moynihan, head of consumer at AIB, highlighted September’s dual dynamics: post-holiday return and the back-to-school effect. “September is a busy month as people return from holidays and have that back to school feeling,” he said. He also noted the enduring appetite for music and culture, with Electric Picnic ticket sales driving the highest spending day of the year so far, underscoring how cultural events shape consumer behavior and the broader economy.
What This Means for Ireland
The September spend surge signals a healthy blend of consumer confidence and event-driven activity supporting Ireland’s retail, hospitality, and entertainment sectors. While some hospitality segments retraced after peak summer months, the overall trajectory points to a economy buoyed by major events, tourism, and ongoing demand for entertainment and back-to-school essentials.
Source: AIB Spend Trend, September data across 75 million card transactions.
