Future Retirement Success
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks

Future Retirement Success

Business

Pocket money toys see sales surge as parents and ‘kidults’ hunt for cheaper fun

by January 21, 2025
January 21, 2025
Pocket money toys see sales surge as parents and ‘kidults’ hunt for cheaper fun

Sales of “pocket money” toys under £10 boomed last year, as cost-conscious parents and adult collectors turned to cheaper playsets and mini-figurines to weather tough economic conditions.

According to new data from market research firm Circana, UK toy sales slipped 3.7 per cent to £3.4 billion in 2024, yet lower-priced items performed robustly, with 80 per cent of all toys sold costing under £15 and almost 30 per cent under £10.

The bestselling toy for a second year in a row was the Squishmallows plush range, typically priced below £9, illustrating how affordability has helped propel certain brands. Melissa Symonds, executive director for UK toys at Circana, says families have scaled back impulse purchases after years of rising living costs, boosting demand for “cuddly toys and collectibles” over costlier options.

Crucially, an expanding group of older toy enthusiasts—known as ‘kidults’, aged 12 and over—now accounts for nearly 30 per cent of UK toy sales. Their willingness to spend on pricier building sets, especially Lego’s advanced or licensed ranges, has helped offset some revenue declines. Sales of building sets rose by 6 per cent, aided by Lego’s Botanics range of floral-themed sets, which appeal to a growing adult demographic.

Across the board, demand for collectible toys continues unabated. One in five toys sold in 2024 was a collectible, with average prices at £7.59. Brands like Funko Pop! and Sylvanian Families have capitalised on Britons’ love of assembling entire sets, while licensed lines from hit films and TV series—such as Despicable Me and Bluey—are also on the rise.

Kerri Atherton, the head of public affairs at the British Toy & Hobby Association, highlights the surge in “micro collectibles”—toys under 5cm tall—driven by the popularity of Lego minifigures and Funko’s Bitty Pop! range. “We’ve seen plenty of excitement around these tiny toys that deliver both a high ‘cute factor’ and a low price tag,” she said, noting an 18 per cent rise in micro-collectible sales.

Despite a flurry of late-December sales, the UK toy market posted its fourth consecutive annual decline, reflecting a wider slump in retail sales volumes. Official data from the Office for National Statistics showed a 0.3 per cent month-on-month fall in December, a key shopping period.

“These figures have undoubtedly been shaped by the unsettled economic climate,” Atherton said, emphasising that inflationary pressures and cost-of-living challenges have rippled through discretionary categories such as toys. Nevertheless, robust performance in budget and collectible segments suggests that when it comes to playtime, British shoppers are simply scaling down rather than opting out.

Read more:
Pocket money toys see sales surge as parents and ‘kidults’ hunt for cheaper fun

0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
previous post
California Wildfires: Policy and Incentives
next post
Volkswagen warns of ‘harmful’ consequences from Trump’s Mexico tariffs

You may also like

How to Welcome a Foster Child into Your...

March 8, 2023

Lloyd’s of London warns major cyber attack on...

October 18, 2023

Post Office eyes extra £100m from new bank...

January 3, 2025

Bank of England announces 0.5 percentage point rise...

September 22, 2022

Elon Musk is the entrepreneur the world is...

June 14, 2023

Kwasi Kwarteng ditches 45p tax cut ahead of...

October 3, 2022

Fears of tougher restrictions sweep China after first...

November 22, 2022

10,000 companies removed from register for ‘illicit activities’...

June 19, 2025

UK officials fear port chaos unless EU delays...

July 9, 2024

Google found in breach of monopoly laws over...

August 6, 2024

    Get free access to all of the retirement secrets and income strategies from our experts! or Join The Exclusive Subscription Today And Get the Premium Articles Acess for Free

    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent Posts

    • Senate shuts down Kaine’s attempt to check Trump’s war powers

      June 28, 2025
    • 3 Stock Setups for the Second Half of 2025

      June 28, 2025
    • Trump touts administration’s progress on peace deals, says world leaders ‘respect our country again’

      June 27, 2025
    • Venezuelan opposition member details harrowing 400-day captivity at UN

      June 27, 2025
    • Anxious Republicans turn to Trump amid divisions over ‘big, beautiful bill’

      June 27, 2025
    • JD Vance poised to clinch victory for Trump’s landmark bill as GOP finalizes strategy

      June 27, 2025

    Categories

    • Business (8,329)
    • Investing (2,081)
    • Politics (15,842)
    • Stocks (3,176)
    • About us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Disclaimer: futureretirementsuccess.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2025 futureretirementsuccess.com | All Rights Reserved