NEW data has revealed what people are choosing to spend their money on during the coronavirus pandemic.

Cash-back app Ibotta found that people were opting to splash the cash on certain items more than before, while others fell by the wayside.

And it appears baked tarts and tequila might be the order of the day.

The company compared what people bought in the first half of 2019 with what they went for in the first half of 2020 - when England was first plunged into lockdown.

The item category which recorded the greatest increase in demand was spirits, with people buying 33 per cent more of the hard liquor in 2020 than the year before.

Breaking the data down into subcategories, sales of liquor using the app were up 75 per cent, brandy increased by 43 per cent, Tequila saw a 40 per cent rise and Whiskey purchases jumped up by 39 per cent.

Vodka (26 per cent) Gin (14 per cent) and rum (14 per cent) all saw smaller increases.

Aside from spirits, other categories to enjoy a jump in popularity were:

  • Bakery items (up 17 per cent) 
  • Meat, poultry and seafood (up 16 per cent)
  • Condiments, sauces and seasonings (up 15 per cent)
  • Deli products (8- 15 per cent)
  • Beauty and grooming (up 14 per cent)
  • Canned goods and soup (up 13 per cent)
  • Wine (up 12 per cent)
  • Frozen foods (up 12 per cent)
  • Health and wellness products (up10 per cent)

But, perhaps surprisingly with most alcoholic drinks proving to be in high demand, beer sales were down by two per cent overall.

One of the most dramatic drops was in clothing, with many people now working from home and actively urged not to leave the house under lockdown restrictions.

Apparel recorded a drastic 37 per cent decline.