THE average Christmas shopper is due to spend £706 on gifts, food, drink and socialising this year, an increase of more than £40 on last year.
These figures are taken from the annual Christmas retail review by accountants Deloitte which predicts the nation’s spending habits and shopping trends.
And it leaves Chester retailers hoping that one of the merriest sounds of the festive season will be the ringing of cash tills throughout the city.
The Chester Mall marketing manager, Julie Williams, said: “As a company we have got 23 shopping centres up and down the country.
“We are expecting a very busy Christmas this year.
‘Overall the number of customers has remained about the same as last year, but the actual amount spent has gone up by about 4% over the year and the average spend has increased. I think it’s going to be a good Christmas.”
The report says that more than half of the UK population has been planning ahead for this year’s spending, saving throughout the year to spread the increasing cost of Christmas.
Shoppers will be returning to the High Street, at the expense of department stores and outlet villages, and buying local is back as about a third of people will go to small, independent stores and markets.
Unsurprisingly children, and specifically boys, will receive the most expensive gifts this Christmas as more than half of shoppers are looking for games consoles and MP3 players.
And when it comes to paying for Christmas, 80% of UK consumers plan to pay for the majority of their Christmas gift and food shopping using cash or debit cards.
Only 16% say they intend to put the bulk of their shopping on credit cards.
