Children’s spending falls this year, but toys not hit as hard as some other categories, reveals new report.

A new survey of children age 5-16 shows that children’s spending has dropped across all 16 measured spending categories year on year – but toys are one of the least affected.

The 2018 Childwise Monitor report found that fewer children are receiving pocket money or adhoc handouts this year – but those that are still getting an income are getting slightly more than last year. The average weekly pocket money is £11.20 per week – up from £9.70 a year ago.

Simon Leggett, research director at Childwise, commented: “Parents are tightening their belts and are exerting more control over how their children spend money, leaving children with less disposable income as a result.”

The 2018 Childwise Monitor data shows that only three in ten children ever buy toys for themselves, falling marginally from last year. One in six children bought toys for themselves over the previous month, the same proportion as last year. More than a third of 5-16-year olds have toys bought for them by other people, falling after a rise to four in ten a year ago.

Boys and girls are equally likely to buy toys for themselves this year. Self-purchase of toys peaks among more than half of 5-6-year olds, falling across the age range to fewer than one in ten teenage children ever buying.