Christmas shopping in the United Kingdom (UK) - statistics & facts
The Christmas season in the United Kingdom is an exciting time not just for people celebrating, gathering with loved ones, and eating good food, but also for retailers. Sales figures peak during this period, with a significantly greater volume of retail goods sold in the United Kingdom in December than in any other month. The total value of seasonal sales in the United Kingdom was forecast to amount to approximately 88 billion British pounds in 2024, which was an increase of over three billion pounds from the previous year. Nevertheless, these forecasted sales figures for the United Kingdom ranked as the highest in Europe, with expected sales worth roughly nine billion pounds more than those in second-placed Germany.
While many felt the strain of rising prices, there is a strong sense of determination among British shoppers to have a joyful holiday season, nevertheless. As an affordable alternative, consumers are opting for more sustainable gifting practices. However, price isn’t even the biggest concern, with the majority sharing that making a positive impact on the environment is more important.
Where will consumers buy their gifts?
One of British consumers’ biggest expenditures over the Christmas period is gifts for friends and relatives. In particular, Brits generally spend the highest sums of money on gifts for their children or partners. The majority of Christmas retail sales are still done in-store; in 2024 this channel was forecast to generate nearly 56 billion British pounds, roughly 23 billion pounds more than online sales. According to a 2024 survey, consumers favorite purchase channels for Christmas gifts, other than online stores, were supermarkets, discount stores, or big box stores, with almost half of consumers shopping at these locations.The cost of living at Christmas
In order to manage their holiday expenses, one-third of consumers said that they would be buying fewer or less expensive gifts in 2024. Many consumers feel the need to do this as they are worried about the increase in the cost of living, and its impact on their ability to afford their Christmas celebrations. Almost all generations were particularly likely to cut back on Christmas spending as a result of the rise in the cost of living.While many felt the strain of rising prices, there is a strong sense of determination among British shoppers to have a joyful holiday season, nevertheless. As an affordable alternative, consumers are opting for more sustainable gifting practices. However, price isn’t even the biggest concern, with the majority sharing that making a positive impact on the environment is more important.
