Despite promises of the 'don't move, improve' trend boosting DIY sales, UK homeowners would rather spend their money on travel and clothing, says Mintel.
Recent research from Mintel has revealed that a growing number of Brits are losing interest in the home - in fact two million of us have stopped doing our own home improvements over the past couple of years.

Leisure and fashion are now people's top priorities, with 41% saying they planned to travel and take more holidays, 17% opted to eat and drink out and 16% planned to spend on new clothing and footwear.

However, it's not so much the younger generation who have fallen out of love with DIY. Mintel describes the DIY decline in 35-54 year olds as "inexorable", while interest among the 25-35 age group - the first time buyers - has remained stable over the past four years. According to Mintel, older people are less inclined to do it themselves and much more likely to get someone else in to do the work for them.

While the interest in DIY in declining among Brits, interestingly pride in the home remains strong.

Mintel's DIY Retailing report for March 2010 said: "One explanation for this apparent contradiction is the growth of the Do-it-for-me market and the use of tradesmen during the boom. But while the recession has had an impact on that trend, there is little evidence of any reversal of the change in attitudes which led to it in the first place."