Shoppers set to spend over £3 billion in pre-Christmas weekend sprint

Shoppers dashing to purchase last-minute Christmas presents have been anticipated to present the High Street a “Super Saturday” enhance value billions in the present day.

Retailers have been anticipating one of many busiest buying and selling days of the yr adopted by a bumper day of enterprise on Sunday besides.

One retail voucher firm estimated 38 million customers would hit the High Street spending £3.31billion in retailer and on-line over the weekend up by 15% on final yr.

The agency expects £1.76bn in gross sales in the present day adopted by £1.55bn spent tomorrow.

Anita Naik, of VoucherCodes.co.uk, which launched the figures, mentioned: “This year has been tough for retailers. They will be glad to hear there’s going to be one more flurry of sales before the end of the year.

“While many people will be limiting what they buy this Christmas in response to the cost of living crisis, the money they do have will be put into making this Christmas one to remember.”

As properly as presents for family members customers have been forking out on luxurious meals with gross sales at one agency up by as a lot as 900 per cent this Christmas.

Lincolnshire-based Christmas hamper specialists IMP & Maker which provides luxurious wicker hampers costing as much as £2000 reported demand for its top-end vary up nine-fold on final yr.

The firm was topped purveyors of the UK’s best Christmas hamper on the Good Housekeeping Awards, beating high retailer Fortnum and Mason.

Founder Sarah Louise Fairburn mentioned: “This Christmas, big is most definitely better. Our clients have decided to celebrate in extravagant style and bring friends and family together to feast on the best possible array of delicacies.”

“With sales at this level it looks as if hampers are well and truly on Christmas shopping lists.”

The constructive forecasts matched earlier predictions from GlobalData who consider retail spending within the final three months of the yr will hit £110billion, up 3.4% on the yr earlier than.

Official figures launched yesterday additionally confirmed encouraging indicators the retail sector was having fun with a powerful end to the yr.

Sales progress greater than tripled expectations because the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that volumes elevated by 1.3% in November.

It was forward of the predictions of economists who had forecast simply 0.4% progress for the month.

The ONS additionally revised its knowledge for October upwards, reporting that there was zero progress in retail gross sales after beforehand estimating a fall of 0.3%.

ONS director of financial statistics Darren Morgan mentioned: “Retail sales grew strongly in November as heavy Black Friday discounting encouraged shoppers to spend.

“However, with the three-month trend continuing to fall and overall sales still below pre-pandemic levels, it’s still a challenging time for retailers.

“In the latest month, household goods retailers, clothing shops and department stores all reported robust sales, with computer stores, sports equipment, toy shops and cosmetics stores particularly benefitting from the impact of their Black Friday promotions.”

The knowledge revealed that gross sales volumes at non-food shops, which embody clothes and shops, rose by 2.3% in November, elevated from 0.2% in October.

Retailers mentioned this was supported through the month by earlier Black Friday gross sales and sharp reductions to cost as retailers sought to draw extra customers.

Households items shops have been among the many strongest performers, with 3.5% progress, amid robust demand for furnishings.
Meanwhile, meals retailers noticed volumes enhance by 0.8% for the month.

Supermarkets noticed modest progress of 0.1%, with specialist meals retailers, corresponding to butchers and bakers, reporting a really robust month, with progress of 8.5%, as a result of earlier Christmas buying.

Helen Dickinson, chief government of the British Retail Consortium, mentioned: “Many retailers tried to give sales a needed boost in November by starting their Black Friday sales even earlier this year.

“Cosmetics and toiletries had another strong month as consumers continued to splurge on smaller indulgences.

“Retailers anticipate that consumers will be making a last-minute dash to their favourite stores in the final days leading up to Christmas.”

A observe of warning was sounded by Santander for customers to be careful for scams over the Christmas interval as fraudsters benefit from elevated spending by customers.

The financial institution mentioned two prospects made claims on Christmas Day 2022 after falling sufferer to the household and associates WhatsApp impersonation rip-off.

On Boxing Day, claims have been made for numerous purchases together with automobiles and video games consoles, in addition to folks reporting ticket scams associated to soccer.

WhatsApp impersonation scams contain criminals impersonating those who message recipients know and belief, together with members of the family. They might ship a message pretending to be a liked one, main the dialog in direction of an pressing enchantment for assist and a must switch cash.

Chris Ainsley, head of fraud danger administration at Santander, mentioned: “Christmas should be the most wonderful time of the year but unfortunately there are criminals out there trying to be the Grinch who stole Christmas.

“As people enjoy the festivities with loved ones, they should remain guarded against the usual scams that criminals attempt all year round.

“Whether shopping online with some Christmas money or getting offered tickets to sold-out football games on Boxing Day, people should think carefully before handing over any money and remember that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”