Aussie shoppers are tipped to spend $2.3 billion nationwide on Boxing Day 2015, according to the Australian Retailers Association (ARA), with a total of $16.8 billion to be spent from December 26 to January 15, 2016.
Post-Christmas spending estimates by the ARA and Roy Morgan Research indicate sales will be four per cent higher than the same period last year, evidence of Australia’s growing love affair with bargains. Post Christmas food sales are expected to top $6.8 billion, a 3.4 per cent increase compared to 2014, which reached around $6.5 billion.
“Pre-Christmas 2015 saw record sales at retail stores, and we’re expecting to see a very similar growth story play out in the post-Christmas sales,” Russell Zimmerman, executive director of the ARA, said.
“A rush of bargain hunters will be out in force on Boxing Day, with December 26 one of the biggest shopping days of the year across the country.
“Boxing Day heralds the opening of the post-Christmas sales period and is traditionally when the biggest savings can be made.
“Of course, the sales will continue beyond December 26 right through January, so for those who aren’t able to get to the shops on Boxing Day, there will be further opportunities to snap up some bargains,” Zimmerman said.
Victoria will see the lion’s share of the post-Christmas shopping growth, up 5.6 per cent to $4.2 billion across the 21-day period tracked by ARA and Roy Morgan, followed by NSW at 3.8 per cent growth and $5.3 billion.
When it comes to Boxing Day, the ARA anticipates that NSW and Victorian residents will spend the most at $750 million and $721 million respectively.