The National Retail Association (NRA) has today forecast Aussie shoppers to splash over $17 billion dollars in the final ten days before Christmas.
Retailers across the country are busily preparing themselves as Australians finalise last minute Christmas shopping and stock up on festive food for Christmas Day celebrations.
NRA CEO Dominique Lamb said that retail trade is set to ramp up as we head into the final straight before Christmas.
“In the final ten days before Christmas the NRA projects shoppers across Australia to splash $17.8 billion in cash as they finalise Christmas purchases,” Ms Lamb said.
“The days leading up to Christmas are incredibly busy ones for all parts of the retail sector, with shoppers descending on stores for everything from purchasing last-minute presents to picking out what to eat with the family on Christmas Day itself.
“More than one-third of sales during the Christmas trade period will occur in the final ten days before Santa rides his sleigh into town, so you can expect to see retail stores across the country packed to the rafters with shoppers.
Ms Lamb also provided some tips for shoppers on how to best navigate this busy period.
“Take the time to research the Christmas trading hours at your local shopping centre as extended hours are in place across many locations throughout the country,” Ms Lamb said.
“If convenient, consider using public transport – or take advantage of the extended trading hours by shopping early or late to avoid peak times in the car park.
“Before you leave for the shops, try and identify what items you’d like to purchase and from which store. With almost all retailers having online sites you can see what items they have on offer and compare prices across businesses.
“And finally, please remember to be patient and polite towards retail staff. It is the busiest time of year for retailers, with many working at capacity, so please keep the Christmas spirit in mind and treat them with patience.”
The NRA has forecast Australians to spend a total of $50 billion throughout the Christmas trade period, which encompasses half of November and all of December.
| STATE | 2018 10-day countdown forecast (Dec 15-24) |
| NSW | $5.8 Billion |
| VIC | $4.7 Billion |
| QLD | $3.4 Billion |
| SA | $1.2 Billion |
| WA | $1.9 Billion |
| TAS | $351 Million |
| NT | $149 Million |
| ACT | $318 Million |
| TOTAL | $17.8 Billion |
| ONLINE SALES | 2018 10-day countdown forecast (Dec 15-24) |
| Pure-play Online | $387 Million |
| Multi-Channel Online | $683 Million |
| TOTAL | $1.07 Billion |
The National Retail Association is Australia’s largest and most representative retail industry association. It has been serving businesses in the retail and fast food sectors for close to 100 years.
Dominique Lamb is available for interviews.
Please contact the NRA’s media unit on (07) 3240 0163 or 0467 792 013.