Moving home is more than just a change of address; it ignites a wave of retail spending. TwentyCi has calculated that around the time of a move, homemovers contribute an impressive £21.4 billion to the UK economy in retail spending annually. When comparing the homemover with those staying put, they are, on average, three times more likely to purchase retail goods. This makes the homemover a significant and timely market segment for retailers to target.
The amount spent depends on whether the product or service meets the homemover’s needs.
We have analysed the retail expenditure of the homemover based on the following product categories that usually see heightened demand during the move:
- Furniture
- Electricals
- Soft furnishings
- DIY
- Kitchens and bathrooms
- New and used cars
We have mapped out the spending timeline of homemovers for these categories, the duration over which spending occurs before, during and after moving, and finally, which day of the move generates the greatest order value and revenue activity.
The Power of the Homemover in Retail Trends
We have based our analysis on purchases made in 2024, tracking homemovers between 6 months before their move to one-year afterwards.
The chart below illustrates the percentage of all orders, revealing a strong peak around the day of the home move, which is indicated as day zero on the x-axis.
This chart illustrates the fluctuations we typically observe in the spending behaviour of people moving homes. The peak day for retail purchases occurs on the first day after the move. It’s important to note that this day accounts for just 1.3% of all orders placed by homemovers. Within the initial week following the move, 7.7% of orders are made, rising to 23.8% throughout the first month...
Read the rest of the article in our latest Property and Homemover Report for Q2 2025. You can download this here.
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