Almost Half of U.K. Shoppers Spent Less at Christmas This Year
Almost Half of U.K. Shoppers Spent Less at Christmas This Year
(Bloomberg) -- Many Britons seem to have tightened their belts this festive season in an early sign that retailers won’t have received much of a boost from the holidays.
Forty-seven percent of consumers said they spent less on Christmas this year than last, according to a survey by Retail Economics. A quarter said they wouldn’t shop in after-Christmas sales because they had already spent their money during Black Friday promotions.
Faster inflation following the Brexit vote and squeezed incomes have curbed consumer spending in the U.K. this year. Snowy weather may have also kept shoppers away from stores despite deep price cuts from the likes of Debenhams Plc, House of Fraser Ltd. and New Look Retail Group Ltd.
“Festive cheer will be thinly spread across the industry,” said Richard Lim, chief executive officer of Retail Economics, which provides research and analysis on U.K. retailing. “Online will see the lion’s share of growth.”
More than two-thirds of consumers said they did some of their shopping online this year. Amazon.com Inc. was the most popular retailer, followed by Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s Asda, Tesco Plc and Marks & Spencer Group Plc.
Retail Economics surveyed 2,000 people starting on Sunday.
To contact the reporter on this story: Brian Swint in London at bswint@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Paul Gordon at pgordon6@bloomberg.net, John J. Edwards III, Marthe Fourcade
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