Shoppers expected to spend an average of £236 each in Boxing Day sales

Shoppers are expected to spend an average of £236 each during the Boxing Day sales this year, with the majority of purchases made online.

In total, £4.6 billion will be spent, according to a study by researchers at Barclays Consumer Spend.

Almost half of those surveyed said the cost of living crisis would affect their post-Christmas shopping, but the average planned spend is still £50 more per person than before the pandemic, part of that figure being due to inflation, Barclays said.

Faced with financial pressures, many people are considering purchasing practical, perishable and essential items such as food and kitchenware.

In total, 65% of shoppers expect to spend the majority of their sales budget online. Last year, Barclays found that 63.9% of Boxing Day retail purchases were made online.

However, a quarter of those surveyed want to spend primarily in-store, an increase of 11% on last year.

It comes after major retailers including Next, Marks & Spencer and John Lewis announced they would not open their physical stores on Boxing Day.

Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, said: “Despite current cost of living pressures, it is encouraging to hear that consumers will actively participate in the post-Christmas sales.

“This year we are likely to see a shift towards practicality and sustainability, with more shoppers looking for bargains on kitchen appliances and second-hand goods.

“Boxing Day continues to be a crucial time for the retail sector, and the renewed interest in in-store shopping, along with the enduring resilience of online platforms, demonstrates a more balanced and adaptive approach from consumers, which we hope will continue in the new. year.”

Consumers choose in-store shopping largely because they enjoy the social aspect and touching items before buying, Barclays said, adding that high streets and shopping centers are the most popular destinations .

Researchers found a 7% increase in the number of people planning to buy kitchen items such as kettles, fryers and blenders this year, with groceries increasing by 5%.

“This marks a shift towards more functional finds, as Brits look to use the sales to save on practical and big-ticket items, which are usually within their budget,” Barclays said.

“Going further, a quarter (24%) say they will only buy what they consider to be essential items during the post-Christmas sales.

“Similarly, the main motivations for shopping after Christmas include replacing sold out products (35%) or lost or broken items (31%).

A third of respondents expect to shop on retailer websites when people post their unwanted gifts.

Barclays said: “Half (48%) of them do so because they believe they can get a good deal from people’s unwanted Christmas presents, while more than a third (36%) say the cost of living means they will buy more. second-hand items than usual, in an effort to make their money go further.

Men expect to spend on average £53 more than women, and overall shoppers expect they will spend £18 less per person than in last year’s sales.