Spending on digital subscriptions has jumped annually, buoyed by shows such as Baby Reindeer and Ripley, according to Barclays. New TV shows such as Netflix’s Baby Reindeer, the series created by and starring comedian Richard Gadd which has generated huge word-of-mouth and critical acclaim, and Ripley, starring Andrew Scott as an antihero drawn into a world of wealth and privilege, helped lead to an increase in spending on digital content and subscriptions, Barclays’ data indicates. Barclays suggested that popular shows, along with higher subscription fees and stricter rules around password sharing introduced by some streaming companies, were behind a 10.6% increase in spending on digital content and subscriptions. The spending research is based on consumer card spending data using Barclays debit card and Barclaycard credit card transactions. It compares the period March 23 to April 19 2024 with March 25 to April 21 2023. Spending on entertainment generally grew 3.2%, as families enjoyed the half-term break. Growth in spending on takeaways and fast food remained flat, Barclays said, at 3.0%. An Opinium survey among 2,000 people for Barclays in April found nearly three-quarters (73%) of people are actively looking for ways to reduce the cost of their weekly shop – the...