Cash transactions dipped in July amid poor weather, says Post Office

Cash transactions dipped in July, in signs that people were tightening their belts or curbed their spending due to the poor weather, according to the Post Office.

The Post Office handled £3.33 billion in transactions in July, slightly down on £3.35 billion in June.

Personal cash withdrawals totalled £815 million in July, down from £836 million in June.

Business cash deposits totalled £1.14 billion in July, also down from £1.17 billion in June.

There were also signs of people shoring up their savings, with personal cash deposits totalling £1.34 billion in July, up from £1.31 billion in June.

Martin Kearsley, Post Office banking director, said: “Small reductions in cash withdrawals and business cash deposits in what is normally a very busy summer month is an indication consumers may have started tightening their belts – or may just reflect the poor weather.

“The increase in personal cash deposits suggests people could be putting some money aside for summer staycations or possibly for a more financially constrained autumn.”

UK holiday companies have been reporting a surge in last-minute bookings by people keen to escape poor weather at home.

Met Office figures suggest last month was the UK’s sixth wettest July on record.

Last week, Advantage Travel Partnership, a network of independent travel agents, said 18% of bookings within the past month were for August departures, up from an expected 4% at that time of year.

The Post Office has partnerships with more than 30 banks, building societies and credit unions, meaning that 99% of UK bank customers can access their accounts at their Post Office branch.