Invest
Aussies tipped to spend $52bn this Christmas
Australians are tipped to spend over $52 billion across retail stores during the Christmas trading period, according to new research.

Aussies tipped to spend $52bn this Christmas
Australians are tipped to spend over $52 billion across retail stores during the Christmas trading period, according to new research.

Roy Morgan’s annual Christmas retail sales forecast suggests spending will increase by 2.6 per cent from $51.4 billion of retail expenditure during the 2018 Christmas trading period.
Roy Morgan chief executive Michele Levine said, “Christmas retail spending forecasts predict a spending increase of 2.6 per cent in 2019.”
“This is slightly below the 2.8 per cent growth of a year ago, although it remains well above the current ABS inflation rate of 1.7 per cent,” she noted.
Growth in retail expenditure is predicted across all six categories measured, with spending on food expected to grow by 3.2 per cent from a year ago to nearly $21.7 billion.
Also set to grow strongly will be apparel, including clothing, footwear and accessories, up 3 per cent to almost $4.2 billion.
Hospitality businesses are forecast to grow by 2.3 per cent to an expenditure of well over $7.4 billion, and an impressive $8.8 billion is expected to be spent on household goods this Christmas, an increase of 0.6 per cent from a year ago.
Department stores are set to experience slower growth than other categories, up by 0.5 per cent, to overall spending of almost $3 billion.
Australians cutting back
While it’s predicted that Australians will spend more collectively, individuals are looking to cut back, according to St.George.
St.George’s Christmas Spending report, which surveyed 1,000 Australians, showed that:
- 43 per cent of households have agreed on spending limits
- 31 per cent plan to give few presents this year
- Households have set themselves an average spending limit of $500 on gifts
nestegg previously reported that one in three Australians now considers Christmas to be the “most wasteful time of the year”.
About the author

About the author


Spending
Aussies can ‘NAB Now Pay Later’ with the last major bank to embrace BNPL
NAB has become the latest bank to enter the BNPL market. ...Read more

Spending
Aussie households spent $368 a week on transport after petrol price surge
Fuel costs have increased by 40 per cent over the past year, a new report from the Australian Automobile Association has revealed. ...Read more

Spending
Voters say reducing the cost of living should be the government’s top priority
Aussies have ranked high cost of living as the top issue that needs to be addressed by the next government. ...Read more

Spending
Bodies back Labor’s commitment to stronger BNPL regulation
All parties should commit to stronger regulations for the BNPL sector, according to Financial Counselling Australia. ...Read more

Spending
Household spending surges led by retail and recreation
Spending on retail, recreation and hospitality have continued to climb as COVID-19 case numbers and restrictions have eased. ...Read more

Spending
Banks extend financial assistance to flood-affected customers
A range of assistance is available from major banks to those impacted by flooding in NSW and Queensland. ...Read more

Spending
Sydney ranks among top data centre markets in the world
Sydney ranked eighth globally and clinched the third spot in the Asia-Pacific data centre market as the industry continues to expand at a breakneck speed. ...Read more

Spending
The trends driving consumer change in 2022
Global research has provided insight into the top consumer trends for the 2022 calendar year. ...Read more

Wrapping up an eventful 2021
Listen now

What Omicron means for property, and are units right for first-time buyers? What is equity crowdfunding? Are industry super funds tapping into member funds to save their skins?
Listen now

Will housing affordability improve in 2022? Will buy now, pay later become the norm? Why are Aussies staying in failing super products?
Listen now

Who really benefits from crypto ETFs? How will the RBA respond to rising inflation? Could a mandate help address unpaid super?
Listen now

Spending
Aussies can ‘NAB Now Pay Later’ with the last major bank to embrace BNPL
NAB has become the latest bank to enter the BNPL market. ...Read more

Spending
Aussie households spent $368 a week on transport after petrol price surge
Fuel costs have increased by 40 per cent over the past year, a new report from the Australian Automobile Association has revealed. ...Read more

Spending
Voters say reducing the cost of living should be the government’s top priority
Aussies have ranked high cost of living as the top issue that needs to be addressed by the next government. ...Read more

Spending
Bodies back Labor’s commitment to stronger BNPL regulation
All parties should commit to stronger regulations for the BNPL sector, according to Financial Counselling Australia. ...Read more

Spending
Household spending surges led by retail and recreation
Spending on retail, recreation and hospitality have continued to climb as COVID-19 case numbers and restrictions have eased. ...Read more

Spending
Banks extend financial assistance to flood-affected customers
A range of assistance is available from major banks to those impacted by flooding in NSW and Queensland. ...Read more

Spending
Sydney ranks among top data centre markets in the world
Sydney ranked eighth globally and clinched the third spot in the Asia-Pacific data centre market as the industry continues to expand at a breakneck speed. ...Read more

Spending
The trends driving consumer change in 2022
Global research has provided insight into the top consumer trends for the 2022 calendar year. ...Read more