UK retailers are expected to see sales reach £1.12bn today (24th December) as consumers pick up last-minute essentials for the big day, a new report has revealed.
The Shopping for Christmas: The build up to Christmas and Boxing Day sales report by VoucherCodes.co.uk forecasts a busy day for retailers today as many consumers brave the cold weather to head to their local high street or supermarket, spending £0.92bn.
It’s a different story for online retailers as just £0.20bn will be spent by online shoppers due to delivery dates not stretching to Christmas Day.
With 12 million shoppers expected to spend today, retailers can still expect a strong day of sales despite spend dropping 0.9 per cent year on year compared to the £1.13bn spent in 2022. Bricks and mortar stores are set to welcome big numbers through their doors as 9.9 million head to their local retailer to stock up on forgotten gifts and fresh food. Additionally, 2.1 million people are expected to shop online today.
Looking ahead to tomorrow, online retailers are expected to see sales reach £0.95bn as 11 million Brits are expected to take a break from their festivities to make the most of the post-Christmas sales - a 12 per cent decrease from last year’s spend of £1.08bn.
“Despite sales being down from last year, almost 10 million Brits are expected to hit the shops for any last-minute essentials on Christmas Eve. With just a few hours left until Christmas Day, it’s the last chance to profit from the festive boost in sales - so retailers should make sure they have plenty of stock to ensure they can take full advantage of the extra footfall,” Michael Brandy, senior commercial director at VoucherCodes.co.uk, commented.
