Currys shoppers cut back on smart speakers and laptops as inflation bites

Some consumers were turning to more expensive, energy-efficient items such as fridges and washing machines if they could afford them, said the retailer. Photograph: Newscast Online Limited/Alamy

Currys expects sales to continue to fall this year as households buy fewer TVs, laptops and smart speakers because of pressure from the cost of living crisis.

The electricals retailer said sales of smart speakers had “fallen off a cliff” and people were delaying replacing items such as laptops and TVs as household spending power was squeezed by stubbornly high inflation.