Brits to spend more in Christmas sales than they have in last two years

BRITS are planning to spend more in this year’s post-Christmas sales than they have in the last two years, according to research.

Shoppers plan to spend an average of £247 each in the end-of-year sales, an increase of £85 on 2020 and £61 more than 2019.

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Boxing Day remains the most popular day to start sales shopping for almost four in 10 (37 per cent), up on the 27 per cent who said the same in 2020.

Some bargain hunters will even have started browsing the sales on Christmas Eve (30 per cent) while 27 per cent also admit they will have spent some time shopping on Christmas Day.

Clothes, shoes and accessories (31 per cent) and food and drink (25 per cent) are at the top of shoppers’ sales lists this year.

And savvy savers say discounted Christmas-related items, such as decorations, are close behind, with 24 per cent of shoppers looking to make savings now by preparing for Christmas 2022.

The research of 2,000 adults was commissioned by Barclaycard Payments, which processes nearly £1 in every £3 spent on credit and debit cards in the UK.

It found Brits will also be sales shopping with families and friends in mind, with a quarter (24 per cent) planning to buy gifts for their nearest and dearest.

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A fifth are shopping for deals on experiences they can share such as concert tickets, and the same number are hoping to book a discounted holiday to make up for missed trips over the past year.

Similarly, 29 per cent said they’ll be shopping for next Christmas and 22 per cent will be looking for Mother’s Day gifts.

Harshna Cayley, Head of Online Payments, Barclaycard Payments said: “The rise in spending when compared to the last two years is a reassuring sign for retailers.

“It shows that, despite inflation increasing and worries about the new Covid-19 variant, consumers are keen to continue the tradition of sales shopping; even when some of the larger retailers are closing their physical stores on Boxing Day itself.

“Yet, we are also becoming more conscious about the purchases we make.

“With environmental concerns and the cost of everyday living front of mind, many Brits are seeking sustainable goods and services but also, financially planning for the year ahead by taking advantage of deals to buy items for celebrations in the New Year.”

The study also found that consumers plan to shop more sustainably, with 27 per cent looking to buy fewer ‘fast fashion’ items and a further 26 per cent making a conscious effort to reduce spending on plastic goods.

SPLASHING THE CASH

In an effort to be more environmentally friendly, 25 per cent of those shopping online will also cut back on over-ordering and returning, while 20 per cent will be seeking deals with retailers that have more sustainable practices.

Buying from local retailers is another way Brits are planning to shop more responsibly, with 22 per cent looking to support smaller businesses and those closer to home in the sales.

Despite sales spending predicted to be higher than last year and 2019, nearly half (47 per cent) of consumers believe inflation may impact how much they buy overall.

And 49 per cent of these respondents intend to spend less than they usually would.

Against the backdrop of looming price increases in 2022, shoppers appear to be making the most of the opportunity to stock up on things they’ll need over the next few months, with 37 per cent planning to find items for upcoming birthdays.

Clare Bailey, Independent Retail Expert and Founder of The Retail Champion, said: “I’m encouraged to see that the Christmas sales are more popular than ever, despite the challenges of the past year and looming impact of inflation.

“As one of the biggest moments in the retail calendar, it’s promising that so many people are prioritising sustainable shopping and thinking about the wider impact of their purchases.

“Based on my conversations with retailers, I know local businesses are expecting high demand this festive sales period so I’m very pleased to see the relationship between consumers and their local shops remains strong.”

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk