Christmas Facts & Figures

The Christmas period is a vital time for many retailers, it is where a number of traders will make up to 60% of their annual turnover.  This Christmas is expected to be no different: -

• The estimated spend for the Christmas period is £33billion which is an increase of 6% on 2005.
• Over £15billion is estimated to be spent in the two weeks before Christmas which is a rise of 8% on last year.
• Christmas purchases are estimated to rise by 10% to just over £11billion.
• On average a person will spend £390 on Christmas gifts.  This is an increase of 18% on last year.  Making up the top 5 gifts are music, clothes, gift vouchers, books and cosmetics.
• The average household expenditure on food and drink is likely to rise by 2% to £163.  Christmas lunch will cost on average £14 per head.
• Purchases of turkey’s will cost an estimated £400million which is more than 10 million turkeys.  The average turkey will cost up to £60 and weight 12lb.
• Christmas day costs approximately £975 per household.  For a 12 hour day this works out at £1.35per minute and £81.27 per hour.
• Christmas tree sales will total an estimated £245 million which is nearly 7million Christmas trees.
• To meet customer demand an estimated £160million worth of Christmas decorations are imported into the UK.  On average a household will spend £25 a year on decorations.
• Only 4.5% of Christmas spending is likely to be done online.

Commenting on Christmas 2006, BRC Director General, Kevin Hawkins, said:

"These are encouraging predictions for the retail sector after a tough year which has seen a slump in consumer confidence, escalating costs and falling prices. The high street is definitely eager for a boom Christmas

 
"Christmas is by far the most important time of the year for many retailers and it is also the best indicator of how confident consumers are heading into the New Year. I think sales figures this Christmas will give us a genuine read on the state of economy in the short term."