Updated for 2023
We're counting down the days, Christmas is almost upon us and we'll be spending more over the next few weeks than we typically would without the festivities.
The average UK household spends more than £720 extra in December, including a 20% increase in spend on food and 40% on drinks. This makes December by far the biggest month of the year for the FMCG industry.
To get you into the spirit, here are 8 Fun Facts about Christmas Shopping:
1. Most UK shoppers start Christmas shopping in October or November.
We all know at least one of those super-organised people who start planning for Christmas in the first half of the year. In fact, one in ten Brits claim to start their Christmas shopping in July or earlier, with an aim to spread the cost throughout the year.
Just over half of us claim to start our shopping 2-3 months before Christmas and a quarter of us don't get started until December.
If you still haven't bought all of your gifts, you're not alone as 12% of UK shoppers claim that most of their Christmas shopping is left until the week before Christmas.
2. When it comes to presents, we spend the most on our kids.
81% of Brits consider giving gifts an important part of Christmas, but only 38% say the same about receiving gifts.
Parents plan to spend an average of £153 on their kids, which makes up almost half of the present budget for family members. 18% of parents plan to spend more than £300 on presents for their offspring.
When cutting back on the cost of Christmas, gifts for children are the last place families would look to save money.
3. The Cost of Christmas is stressful for many.
Whilst most of us are looking forward to Christmas (70%), many of us are concerned by the cost.
This year 44% say they are concerned about the cost of Christmas, compared to 31% in 2020.
In particular, 62% of parents are concerned about their ability to afford Christmas presents for their kids this year.
4. Black Friday has been part of the UK festive period for 9 years and remains popular.
Black Friday was introduced to UK consumers by Amazon in 2010 but it wasn't until 2013 when ASDA took part that it really started to take off.
Which? published research in 2021 showing that 98% of Black Friday deals were available for the same price or cheaper at other times of the year.
Despite this - Black Friday continues to be a popular time to buy big-ticket items.
51% of UK adults planned to spend during the Black Friday weekend, with younger shoppers the most likely to get involved.
During Black Friday 2023, transactions were down 0.6% year on year but continued to show a strong uplift vs. a typical Friday the rest of the year.
5. Roast potatoes are non-negotiable for most of us on Christmas day.
The popularity of a turkey dinner is dropping, but it remains the most popular choice on the big day, as 54% of families in the UK tuck into roast turkey.
The top three items on most people’s plate are roast potatoes (88%), gravy (80%) and stuffing (71%).
The proportion of households buying brussel sprouts fell to 45% last December.
6. You can cater for a family of six for under £100.
Shopping around at different supermarkets for the cheapest option means you can get a meal with all the trimmings for a family of six for £84.18.
Whilst Tesco and Morrisons are cheapest on some items, doing the full shop in Aldi would only set you back £89.18.
7. Online and in store are equally important during the Christmas period.
The proportion of retail sales being made through physical stores has been falling for years. It dropped from 75.6% in 2015 to 68.5% in 2018 and experienced its lowest-ever sales throughout lockdown.
Following lockdown, the share has shifted back to physical stores. Online accounted for 11.6% of grocery sales last December vs. 11.0% in 2021.
According to Deloitte’s Christmas survey, more people plan to buy their presents in-store (50%) compared to the same survey last year (47%).
8. More recently, mobiles have changed how we shop at Christmas.
Shopping with smartphones or tablets accounts for more than half of online Christmas shopping.
We're also using our mobiles when we're in physical stores to check prices, look up additional product information or even to order items we see from other retailers!
The Christmas period is a time where we're all willing to spend a little more on food, drinks and each other. It's vital that brands are offering relevant products and keeping up with the evolving shopping landscape to ensure they are maximising this moment.
How can these fun facts help you plan your Christmas activities?
Have a wonderful Christmas period and a very Happy New Year!
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