Over half of UK shoppers say small retailers urged them to pay with cash
A new LINK survey finds 54% of British consumers have been asked to use cash in the past eight weeks, and three-quarters of those comply.
Exclusive research for This is Money, carried out by LINK, reveals that 54% of UK adults have been asked to pay with cash in the last two months, and 75% of those requests result in a cash transaction. The encouragement is most common in small-business settings such as cafés (22%), independent retailers (19%) and personal-service venues like hair-dressers (16%). Northern Ireland reports the strongest push, while London, Yorkshire and the North West also exceed the national average.
Cash usage as a primary payment method increased to 15% in September 2026, up from 13% in March. LINK data show 77% of small and medium-size retailers still accept cash, with nearly half actively promoting it to avoid card-processing fees and improve liquidity. The findings come as the House of Lords’ National Resilience Committee examines the need for public guidance on emergency cash reserves.
Why it matters
The data highlight a resurgence of cash use, affecting small businesses' costs and consumers' payment choices.
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