Press Releases
Cardlytics Announces Timing of Its Third Quarter 2022 Financial Results Conference Call and Webcast
Atlanta, GA – October 18, 2022 – Cardlytics, Inc., (NASDAQ: CDLX), an advertising platform in banks’ digital channels, today announced that its third quarter ended September 30, 2022 financial results will be released on Tuesday, November 1, 2022, after market close. The company will host a conference call and webcast at 5:00 PM (ET) / 2:00 PM (PT) to discuss the company’s financial results.
A live audio webcast of the event will be available on the Cardlytics Investor Relations website at http://ir.cardlytics.com/. A live dial-in will be available after registering at this link. Shortly after the conclusion of the call, a replay of this conference call will be available through 8:00 PM ET on November 8, 2022 on the Cardlytics Investor Relations website at http://ir.cardlytics.com/.
About Cardlytics
Cardlytics (NASDAQ: CDLX) is a digital advertising platform. We partner with financial institutions to run their rewards programs that promote customer loyalty and deepen relationships. In turn, we have a secure view into where and when consumers are spending their money. We use these insights to help marketers identify, reach, and influence likely buyers at scale, as well as measure the true sales impact of marketing campaigns. Headquartered in Atlanta, Cardlytics has offices in Palo Alto, Los Angeles, New York, and London. Learn more at www.cardlytics.com.
Cardlytics Announces Inducement Grant Under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)
ATLANTA, GA – January 23, 2023 - Cardlytics (NASDAQ: CDLX), an advertising platform in banks’ digital channels, today announced that Cardlytics’ Board of Directors granted 350,000 restricted stock units of Cardlytics to Amit Gupta, Cardlytics’ newly hired Chief Operating Officer. The foregoing restricted stock units were granted as a material inducement to employment with Cardlytics in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4) and were granted under the Cardlytics 2022 Inducement Plan (the “2022 Inducement Plan”). 50% of the restricted stock units shall vest on the first anniversary of the grant date and the remaining 50% of the restricted stock units shall vest quarterly over the following year, subject to Gupta’s continuous service with Cardlytics as of each respective vesting date. The restricted stock units are subject to the terms and conditions of the 2022 Inducement Plan.
About Cardlytics
Cardlytics (NASDAQ: CDLX) is a digital advertising platform. We partner with financial institutions to run their banking rewards programs that promote customer loyalty and deepen banking relationships. In turn, we have a secure view into where and when consumers are spending their money. We use these insights to help marketers identify, reach, and influence likely buyers at scale, as well as measure the true sales impact of marketing campaigns. Headquartered in Atlanta, Cardlytics has offices in Palo Alto, Los Angeles, New York, and London. Learn more at www.cardlytics.com.
Contacts:
Public Relations:
Robert Robinson
Investor Relations:
Robert Robinson
Cardlytics Appoints Amit Gupta as Chief Operating Officer
ATLANTA, GA – January 23, 2022 – Cardlytics (NASDAQ: CDLX), an advertising platform in banks’ digital channels, today announced the appointment of Amit Gupta as its Chief Operating Officer, reporting directly to Karim Temsamani, Chief Executive Officer.
Effective today, Gupta will lead Cardlytics’ overall operations, strategy, and business analytics, where he will closely align with sales, product, and engineering leadership to deliver an optimized platform that exceeds both advertiser and partner expectations. In addition, Gupta will serve as the general manager of Bridg, where Cardlytics can leverage his experience running and scaling businesses. Amit Jain, current CEO of Bridg, will work closely with Gupta as he transitions out of the business over the next several months.
“Cardlytics is delighted to have attracted such a thoughtful, experienced and operationally strong executive,” said Temsamani. “Amit and I worked together for several years at Stripe, where he always impressed me with his strategic and technical abilities. I look forward to resuming our partnership as we optimize and grow the potential of the Cardlytics business."
Gupta joins Cardlytics from Stripe where he was Head of Strategy and Operations for Global Partnerships, responsible for work with banks, networks, and payment methods. Before Stripe, Gupta was Director of Strategy, New Products, and Operations for Google’s Geo division, leading product and engineering execution and strategy for popular consumer and business products like Google Maps, Local Search, Food, Maps Enterprise Platform, and SMBs. Prior, Gupta founded and was the CEO of a series of startups. He started his career at Booz Allen Hamilton, where he was promoted to Partner in the Technology practice working with clients across media, financial services, and consumer products.
“I am extremely excited to join the Cardlytics team. My background in both advertising and financial technology gives me a unique perspective on Cardlytics’ current capabilities and future product offerings. The product roadmap ahead makes now the perfect time to focus on operational excellence by optimizing the efficiency of the core platform and unlocking the potential of the promising Bridg business. I’m looking forward to helping the team execute on our goals and harness the full power of the platform in such a pivotal moment,” said Gupta.
Gupta holds a Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering from The Ohio State University and a Master of Business Administration from the NYU Stern School of Business. He will be based in Cardlytics’ Palo Alto office.
About Cardlytics
Cardlytics (NASDAQ: CDLX) is a digital advertising platform. We partner with financial institutions to run their banking rewards programs that promote customer loyalty and deepen banking relationships. In turn, we have a secure view into where and when consumers are spending their money. We use these insights to help marketers identify, reach, and influence likely buyers at scale, as well as measure the true sales impact of marketing campaigns. Headquartered in Atlanta, Cardlytics has offices in Palo Alto, New York, Los Angeles, and London. Learn more at www.cardlytics.com.
Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to future growth and delivery of an optimized platform. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date they were first issued and were based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections as well as the beliefs and assumptions of management. Words such as "expect," "anticipate," "should," "believe," "hope," "target," "project," "goals," "estimate," "potential," "predict," "may," "will," "might," "could," "intend," or variations of these terms or the negative of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond our control.
Our actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including but not limited to the risks detailed in the “Risk Factors” section of our Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 1, 2022 and in subsequent periodic reports that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.
The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent our views as of the date of this press release. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our views to change. We undertake no intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.
Contacts:
Public Relations:
Robert Robinson
Investor Relations:
Robert Robinson
Cardlytics Announces Third Quarter 2022 Financial Results
Atlanta, GA – November 1, 2022 – Cardlytics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CDLX), a digital advertising platform, today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2022. Supplemental information is available on the Investor Relations section of Cardlytics' website at http://ir.cardlytics.com/.
“We delivered solid double-digit growth despite the serious challenges present in the economy,” said Karim Temsamani, CEO of Cardlytics. “While the economy may be uncertain, I believe there is inherent resiliency in platforms that prove return on ad spend, and I am positive that we can grow profitably. There is a large opportunity ahead of us, and we will be disciplined in Q4 and beyond as we prioritize our goals and position the company well for the next ten years.”
“Our results this quarter were in line with our expectations given our clients' concerns about the economy,” said Andy Christiansen, CFO of Cardlytics. “There is a wide range of outcomes for Q4, but our highest priority is meeting our profitability and cash flow goals for 2023. We are focused on taking the necessary steps to ensure we can control our destiny and achieve our long-term goals.”
Third Quarter 2022 Financial Results
- Revenue was $72.7 million, an increase of 12% year-over-year, compared to $65.0 million in the third quarter of 2021.
- Billings, a non-GAAP metric, was $110.4 million, an increase of 12% year-over-year, compared to $98.4 million in the third quarter of 2021.
- Gross profit was $26.0 million, an increase of 6% year-over-year, compared to $24.5 million in the third quarter of 2021.
- Adjusted contribution, a non-GAAP metric, was $35.1 million, an increase of 11% year-over-year, compared to $31.6 million in the third quarter of 2021.
- Net income attributable to common stockholders was $6.3 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, based on 33.3 million fully diluted weighted-average common shares, compared to a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $(44.5) million, or $(1.35) per diluted share, based on 33.1 million fully diluted weighted-average common shares in the third quarter of 2021.
- Non-GAAP net loss was $(16.5) million, or $(0.50) per diluted share, based on 33.3 million fully diluted weighted-average common shares, compared to non-GAAP net loss of $(11.0) million, or $(0.33) per diluted share, based on 33.1 million fully diluted weighted-average common shares in the third quarter of 2021.
- Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP metric, was a loss of $(12.7) million compared to a loss of $(5.2) million in the third quarter of 2021.
Key Metrics
- Cardlytics MAUs were 184.7 million, an increase of 8%, compared to 170.6 million in the third quarter of 2021.
- Cardlytics ARPU was $0.36 in the third quarter of 2022 and 2021.
- Bridg ARR was $22.1 million in the third quarter of 2022.
Definitions of MAUs, ARPU and ARR are included below under the caption “Non-GAAP Measures and Other Performance Metrics."
Fourth Quarter 2022 Financial Expectations
Cardlytics anticipates billings, revenue, and adjusted contribution to be in the following ranges (in millions):
Q4 2022 GuidanceBillings(1)$120.0 - $132.0Revenue$80.0 - $90.0Adjusted contribution(2)$38.0 - $44.0
- A reconciliation of billings to GAAP revenue on a forward-looking basis is presented below under the heading "Reconciliation of Forecasted GAAP Revenue to Billings."
- A reconciliation of adjusted contribution to GAAP gross profit on a forward-looking basis is not available without unreasonable efforts due to the high variability, complexity and low visibility with respect to the items excluded from this non-GAAP measure.
Earnings Teleconference Information
Cardlytics will discuss its third quarter 2022 financial results during a teleconference today, November 1, 2022, at 5:00 PM ET / 2:00 PM PT. A live dial-in will be available after registering at http://ir.cardlytics.com/. Shortly after the conclusion of the call, a replay of this conference call will be available through 8:00 PM ET on November 8, 2022 on the Cardlytics Investor Relations website at http://ir.cardlytics.com/. Following the completion of the call, a recorded replay of the webcast will be available on Cardlytics’ website.
About Cardlytics
Cardlytics (NASDAQ: CDLX) is a digital advertising platform. We partner with financial institutions to run their rewards programs that promote customer loyalty and deepen relationships. In turn, we have a secure view into where and when consumers are spending their money. We use these insights to help marketers identify, reach, and influence likely buyers at scale, as well as measure the true sales impact of marketing campaigns. Headquartered in Atlanta, Cardlytics has offices in London, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Austin, Detroit and Visakhapatnam. Learn more at www.cardlytics.com.
Cardlytics’ Back-to-School Trend Analysis Shows Impact of Omnichannel on Consumer Spend and Retention
Analysis offers insight from previous back-to-school seasons ahead of the second-largest shopping event of the year
ATLANTA – August 1, 2022 – Cardlytics (NASDAQ: CDLX) released its annual back-to-school (BTS) trend analysis, which underscores the importance of providing consumers with an omnichannel shopping experience to maximize consumer loyalty. The analysis, which comes as 62 percent of consumers start their back-to-school shopping this month, examines previous BTS spending behaviors for a sense of what to expect during the 2022 BTS shopping season amid the backdrop of rising inflation.
Key Takeaway
Notably, the analysis found that consumers who shop across channels (e.g., in-store, online, apps, etc.) spend more. In 2021, shoppers using just one channel spent an average of $900 during the back-to-school shopping season, but those who purchased items across multiple channels spent over $1,000. Even as customers spent more across both on and offline channels in 2022, in-store shopping remains the preferred method for most. It also shows that in-store sales are slowly returning to pre-COVID levels at 63 percent of total spend in 2021, compared to 61 percent in 2020, and 73 percent in 2019.
As shoppers gear up for the 2022 season, inflation may drive these figures higher due to spend per purchase, but that does not necessarily equate to increased purchases in any given category. Cardlytics’ Q1 2022 State of Spend report saw a slowdown in spending toward the end of Q1 as consumers made adjustments to accommodate increased costs in goods, food, gas, and housing brought on by the highest inflation seen since the 1980s. This could continue into the BTS and holiday 2022 seasons as customers focus on purchasing essentials and possibly engage in more one-stop shopping.
“Convincing your customers to convert on both online and offline channels is essential to maximizing incremental sales and customer loyalty,” said Nate Bucholz, Cardlytics’ vice president of DTC, Subscription, and Retail. “Our insights continue to show that people shopping across a brand’s available channels spend more than those who shop in only one channel. And they are more likely to return. Looking at your customer base through the lens of the channel they shop can help you get the most impact from your marketing spend. I would encourage brands to offer the best sales and cashback rewards now to acquire and retain customers as they head into the holidays, which is the last big shopping season of the year.”
Click here or on the image above to open the full-size infographic in a new window.
Additional Trend Highlights
The back-to-school season is the second largest shopping event of the year behind the December holiday season, making up 15 percent of annual consumer spending. The analysis includes sales for apparel, home décor, office supplies, sporting goods, shoes, and mass merchandiser, finding that:
- Overall spend was flat with only a 1.2 percent increase between 2020 and 2021. This is likely due to declines in customer volume and total purchases – defined as the number of actual customers making purchases in these categories. This trend may continue through the 2022 BTS season with minimal growth as customers tighten their wallets and only increase their spending in response to increased prices.
- Apparel had a strong 2021 back-to-school season as parents rushed to refresh wardrobes for in-person schooling. The data showed that spend increased by 24.3 percent year-over-year in this category, driven by strong customer and purchase growth. Spend increases in this category were due to genuine growth and are not a byproduct of current inflation. It is predicted that due to tightening economic conditions and the fact that people spent significantly more last year than the year before, it is likely that there will be a flat or negative spend growth for 2022.
- Shoes and children’s apparel saw significant increases as well last year. Shoes had a nearly 30 percent year-over-year increase while children’s apparel saw a 13.2 percent jump. But, shoe companies are bracing for weaker sales for the latter half of this year, which could impact overall growth for this category in 2022.
- Consumers cut back on home and office supplies in 2021, and this trend has a strong chance of continuing as more children return to classrooms in 2022. Home and office supply spending was down 8 and 8.8 percent, respectively, as fewer purchases were needed for homeschooling and to counterbalance heavy spending in previous years.
- Department stores also experienced greater sales with increases across volume of shoppers, number of purchases, and spend per purchase. Year-over-year spend went up by 22.4 percent. Spending in this category may also feel the impact of inflation, particularly when it comes to spend per purchase – while consumers may have less items in their cart, this may be offset by increased costs for each item.
The review covers an eight-week period beginning the second weekend of July and lasting through Labor Day. Early insights from the first two weeks of July 2022 show that spend is down 8.4 percent YoY as customers brace for economic uncertainty. This points to a decline in the number of customers and purchases resulting in a sluggish start this season across all categories. To view the full trend analysis, visit: https://www.cardlytics.com/blog/customer-loyalty-is-the-battleground-for-back-to-school/
About Cardlytics
Cardlytics (NASDAQ: CDLX) is a digital advertising platform. We partner with financial institutions to run their rewards programs that promote customer loyalty and deepen relationships. In turn, we have a secure view into where and when consumers are spending their money. We use these insights to help marketers identify, reach, and influence likely buyers at scale, as well as measure the true sales impact of marketing campaigns. Headquartered in Atlanta, Cardlytics has offices in London, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Austin, Detroit, and Visakhapatnam. Learn more at www.cardlytics.com.
<strong>Cardlytics Announces Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results</strong>
Atlanta, GA – August 2, 2022 – Cardlytics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CDLX), a digital advertising platform, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022. Supplemental information is available on the Investor Relations section of Cardlytics' website at ir.cardlytics.com.
“I am pleased with our growth in the first half of the year despite the growing pressure macro conditions are having on consumer spending and ad budgets,” said Lynne Laube, CEO & Co-Founder of Cardlytics. “We are also pleased with the progress we are seeing in the Bridg acquisition and expect to see further proof points in future quarters. The combination of the Cardlytics and Bridg data sets has us on the cusp of being able to scale the business beyond our core platform, while our focus on financial goals will allow us to control our own destiny moving forward.”
“We are committed to meeting our adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow goals in 2023, and we’re taking several proactive steps to reduce our cost structure in recognition of the lower-growth environment we are entering,” said Andy Christiansen, CFO of Cardlytics. “We expect year-over-year growth of approximately 10 to 15% in the back half of 2022, and I believe we can navigate a lower growth environment with minimal impact on the long-term prospects of the business.”
Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results
- Revenue was $75.4 million, an increase of 28% year-over-year, compared to $58.9 million in the second quarter of 2021.
- Billings, a non-GAAP metric, was $107.7 million, an increase of 26% year-over-year, compared to $85.3 million in the second quarter of 2021.
- Gross profit was $27.0 million, an increase of 16% year-over-year, compared to $23.2 million in the second quarter of 2021.
- Adjusted contribution, a non-GAAP metric, was $35.1 million, an increase of 19% year-over-year, compared to $29.6 million in the second quarter of 2021.
- Net loss attributable to common stockholders was $(126.3) million, or $(3.75) per diluted share, based on 33.6 million fully diluted weighted-average common shares, compared to a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $(47.3) million, or $(1.43) per diluted share, based on 33.0 million fully diluted weighted-average common shares in the second quarter of 2021.
- Non-GAAP net loss was $(21.7) million, or $(0.65) per diluted share, based on 33.6 million fully diluted weighted-average common shares, compared to non-GAAP net loss of $(12.8) million, or $(0.39) per diluted share, based on 33.0 million fully diluted weighted-average common shares in the second quarter of 2021.
- Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP metric, was a loss of $(15.8) million compared to a loss of $(5.7) million in the second quarter of 2021.
Key Metrics
- Cardlytics MAUs were 179.9 million, an increase of 7%, compared to 167.6 million in the second quarter of 2021.
- Cardlytics ARPU was $0.38, an increase of 12%, compared to $0.34 in the second quarter of 2021.
- Bridg ARR was $21.8 million in the second quarter of 2022.
Definitions of MAUs, ARPU and ARR are included below under the caption “Non-GAAP Measures and Other Performance Metrics.
Earnings Teleconference Information
Cardlytics will discuss its second quarter 2022 financial results during a teleconference today, August 2, 2022, at 5:00 PM ET / 2:00 PM PT. A live dial-in will be available after registering at this link. Shortly after the conclusion of the call, a replay of this conference call will be available through 8:00 PM ET on August 9, 2022 on the Cardlytics Investor Relations website at ir.cardlytics.com. Following the completion of the call, a recorded replay of the webcast will be available on Cardlytics’ website.
About Cardlytics
Cardlytics (NASDAQ: CDLX) is a digital advertising platform. We partner with financial institutions to run their rewards programs that promote customer loyalty and deepen relationships. In turn, we have a secure view into where and when consumers are spending their money. We use these insights to help marketers identify, reach, and influence likely buyers at scale, as well as measure the true sales impact of marketing campaigns. Headquartered in Atlanta, Cardlytics has offices in London, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Austin, Detroit and Visakhapatnam. Learn more at www.cardlytics.com.
Research & Insights
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Where have all the shoppers gone?
How UK shoppers are narrowing their choices — and what it means for growth
After two years of post-pandemic recalibration, UK consumers are still spending. But they are becoming more selective in where, when and why they do so.
Cardlytics’ latest State of Spend report draws on first-party purchase data from 23 million UK bank customers across the spring and summer period.
What it shows is simple: retail growth remains present, but increasingly uneven. Categories that feel essential, convenient or low-risk continue to attract spend. More discretionary and deferrable purchases are coming under greater pressure.
This is less a story of demand disappearing and more one of decision-making narrowing. For retailers and brands, growth will depend less on broad consumer momentum and more on securing a place in a smaller set of deliberate purchasing moments.
Essentials: fewer trips, tighter control
Essential categories remain the most resilient part of the market. But the pattern of spending suggests households are becoming more deliberate in how they manage everyday needs. Growth is still there — it is just concentrated in channels that offer either convenience at scale or a clearer sense of value.
The strongest performance continues to come from Digital & Delivery Grocery, where spend rose 17% in 2024 and 14% in 2025. Transactions also grew strongly, pointing to a channel still benefiting from continued adoption and slightly larger baskets.
Discounter Grocery shows a similar pattern, with spend up 9% in 2024 and 7% in 2025, supported by steady transaction growth. The category continues to act as a dependable value channel for households managing budgets carefully.
Among Big Grocers, growth is more subdued — 6% in 2024, slowing to 3% in 2025 — while transactions moved broadly flat. Spending is being held up by larger baskets rather than more visits. Convenience Grocery has come under greater pressure still, with trips down around 3%.
Fuel is the clearest sign of retrenchment within essentials. Spend declined 5% in 2024 and 10% in 2025, with early 2026 data indicating this behaviour is continuing.
Cardlytics analysis
Essential spend is still being protected, but the shape of that spend is changing. Consumers are concentrating everyday purchasing into channels that help them feel organised or in control — whether that’s delivery-led convenience or discounter-led value.
For marketers, the opportunity is less about generating additional need and more about intercepting planned purchase moments with a clear reason to choose one retailer or brand over another. In a market where fewer shopping occasions carry more weight, securing a greater share of each visit matters more.
Retail: a resilient base, but narrowing engagement
Retail continues to grow — but that growth is becoming more uneven. The strongest performance is increasingly concentrated in categories that feel accessible, repeatable or easy to justify. Traditional and aspirational areas are finding it harder to sustain engagement.
Make-up & Beauty remains one of the clearest areas of resilience. Spend rose 11% in 2024 and 8% in 2025, with transactions also moving in the right direction. It’s one of the few categories where shoppers still see room for smaller, more manageable discretionary purchases.
Online Fast Fashion continues to expand, up 14% and 9% across the two years, though baskets have softened slightly — shoppers engaging more frequently but with tighter control on basket size. Marketplaces are another strong area of growth, reinforcing their role as a flexible, value-conscious route to purchase.
Elsewhere, the picture tightens. High Street Fashion growth has slowed and transactions have flattened. Department Stores saw spend fall 3% in 2024 and 4% in 2025, pointing to an ongoing footfall challenge. And Luxury / Designer Fashion spend declined 6% in 2024 and 8% in 2025 — purchases are still happening, but among fewer shoppers, less often.
Cardlytics analysis
The categories still growing are not necessarily those with the strongest brand pull. They are the ones most aligned with how consumers want to shop now: flexibly, frequently and with lower perceived risk.
For brands, that raises the importance of relevance, value communication and mission-based targeting over broader assumptions about seasonal demand. In a more selective market, success will depend less on broad visibility alone and more on giving shoppers a clear, immediate reason to engage.
Household: from upgrade to upkeep
Across home-related categories, the shift from 2024 into 2025 points to a more cautious consumer mindset. Spending hasn’t disappeared — but households are more willing to maintain and replace than to embark on larger, more discretionary home purchases.
Value Homeware has remained relatively stable, up 9% in 2024 and 5% in 2025. High Street Furniture shows a clearer slowdown, moving from 6% growth to 2%, with spend concentrating in fewer, higher-value occasions.
The pattern is more pressured in DIY. After 3% growth in 2024, spend moved into a 2% decline in 2025, with transactions down around 5%. Electricals follow a similar trajectory — from 4% growth to a 1% decline — with purchases increasingly concentrated in fewer, more considered buying moments.
Cardlytics analysis
In home-related categories, demand increasingly looks tied to maintenance, replacement and justified necessity rather than inspiration or upgrade. That changes what effective messaging looks like.
Brands here may need to focus less on aspiration and more on practicality, durability and timely relevance if they want to convert consumers who are clearly weighing whether a purchase can wait. The strongest opportunities come from moments where need is immediate and the value exchange is clear.
Wider discretionary: where the drop-off is most visible
The clearest signs of pressure appear outside the core retail categories — in areas where spending is most optional and easiest to postpone. Here the challenge is not how much consumers spend when they engage, but whether they enter the category at all.
Sporting Goods / Athleisure illustrates the shift most clearly. After 2% growth in 2024, spend moved to a 6% decline in 2025, with transactions down around 7% while ATV stayed broadly stable. The pressure is being driven by fewer shoppers choosing to participate — not by smaller baskets.
Books, by contrast, continues to perform strongly, up 12% in 2024 and 9% in 2025. It remains one of the clearest examples of a discretionary category where engagement holds up — consumers are still willing to spend where purchases feel lower-cost, familiar or easy to justify.
The issue is no longer simply whether shoppers can spend, but which categories still make the cut.
Cardlytics analysis
For discretionary categories, the core challenge is re-engagement. When consumers are reducing the number of optional purchases they make, brands need stronger triggers to prompt participation in the first place.
That may mean leaning harder into immediacy, occasion-based relevance, perceived value or more functional reasons to buy — rather than assuming promotions alone will unlock demand. Growth depends less on broad category momentum and more on giving consumers a compelling reason to opt in at all.
Looking ahead into 2026
Early 2026 performance is already pointing to where the narrowing of shopper demand is concentrating. Online pharmacy revenue is driving Beauty category growth. Health & wellbeing FMCG is up against overall category decline. Electronics AOV is rising on accessories, PC and gaming. And Paint & Home Furnishings are rising even as DIY declines — a clear signal that the channel and use-case shifts identified in this report are continuing.
Fewer decisions, higher stakes
The summer shopper has not disappeared, but the number of decisions they appear willing to make has narrowed.
Across the market, the strongest performance is coming from categories that feel essential, convenient or easy to justify, while more deferrable and aspirational purchases are facing greater pressure. That does not point to a collapse in consumer demand — it points to a consumer mindset that is becoming more selective about where spending feels worthwhile.
For retailers and brands, that creates a more competitive environment. Growth is no longer just about being present at the point of purchase — it is about being relevant enough to be included in a smaller set of deliberate decisions. In that context, value, timing and clarity matter more, particularly in categories where engagement can no longer be taken for granted.
How marketers should show up
01. Protect existing shoppers first
Shoppers don’t leave in one move — they drift. Transaction data already shows who’s slipping. Reaching a lapsed shopper around their next likely need window is cheaper than finding a replacement, and more effective than broad re-acquisition.
02. Growth sits in small, repeat purchases
The categories still expanding are the ones where the purchase feels small, familiar and easy to justify. Find the version of your product that fits a smaller, more frequent moment — something a shopper says yes to without deliberation.
03. Solve for participation, not basket size
The harder question isn’t what a shopper spends when they show up — it’s whether they show up at all. Discounting rarely pulls someone into a category they’ve stepped out of. An immediate, tangible need does.
The brands best placed to outperform will be those that understand which purchase moments consumers still prioritise — and can show up in those moments with a clear and compelling reason to buy.
Talk to Cardlytics about how purchase intelligence and card-linked offers can help your brand secure a place in a smaller, more deliberate set of consumer decisions — www.cardlytics.com
The Controlled Consumer:
Why UK shoppers entered 2026 already spending with intent
The New Year value hunt started before Christmas.
Cardlytics’ State of Spend analysis of Q4 2025 and early Q1 2026 shows that UK consumers did not loosen their spending habits over the festive period. Instead, they became more deliberate about how and where they spent. Drawing on card-based transaction data from over 23 million bank accounts, the analysis points to a shift toward a more controlled approach to spending that is now shaping behaviour into 2026.
The last State of Spend showed that UK consumers had returned to the market, but with conditions. Spending resumed, but cautiously. Shoppers scrutinised price, convenience and perceived quality, pulling back when expectations were not met. Consumers would still spend, but largely when prompted by the right offer or moment.
The latest data shows that this scrutiny has since become embedded in shoppers’ habits. December revealed how consumers were already operating under tighter decision-making rules as they approached the new year.
With inflation ticking up again at the end of the year, cost pressures remained firmly in place. Rather than retreating from spending altogether, consumers adapted — switching formats, trading down and filtering purchases more aggressively. Festive spending held, but it was more controlled, with loyalty weakening and defaults increasingly questioned. As a result, consumers entered Q1 already spending more selectively.
Read the full report by downloading it here.
The Golden Quarter is Changing: Inside the 2025 State of Spend
The UK’s peak retail season is evolving. Consumers are still spending, but they’re more selective, strategic, and values-driven than ever before. Based on spend data from over 23 million UK bank accounts and nationally representative research, Cardlytics' State of Spend report uncovers what’s shaping the 2025 Golden Quarter — and where brands should focus to win.
Headline Trend Summaries (With Light Stats)
1. Black Friday is no longer the main event
The era of single-day shopping spikes is fading. Our data reveals that consumers are spreading spend across weekends and early December instead. Brands focused only on the Friday are missing the bigger picture.
2. Gifts that matter and don’t just impress
Over half of consumers say they’re choosing meaningful or practical gifts this year. Beauty and books are holding strong, while luxury and electrical categories are losing ground.
3. Fashion is fragmenting
Fast fashion still performs, but growth is slowing. Shoppers are shifting toward resale platforms and marketplaces that offer affordability and sustainability in one.
4. Grocery is about confidence, not just cost
Spend is still rising across grocery - but discounters, delivery services, and high-end grocers are outpacing traditional supermarkets. Value is no longer just about price; it’s about trust and convenience.
Consumers are still buying. They’re just doing it on their terms. The winners in 2025 will meet them where they are — with relevance, value, and visibility.”
Want the full data?
The full report includes:
- Category-by-category breakdowns from 2022 to 2024
- 2025 retail forecasts across 14 key sectors
- Consumer behaviour insights and shopping intent
- Strategic recommendations for campaign planning
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