Britons are expected to allocate £3.43 billion for last-minute Christmas shopping during what is now being referred to as “Panic Weekend.” A discount platform, VoucherCodes.co.uk, anticipates that 49.6 million individuals will engage in festive shopping this upcoming weekend. Of these, 36.8 million are projected to visit brick-and-mortar stores, providing a notable boost to town and city centers nationwide.
The forecast indicates that the expenditure will peak at an average of £2.3 million per minute on “Super Saturday,” totaling £1.75 billion overall. With this weekend being the final one before Christmas, many people are utilizing it to either wrap up their gift procurement or, in some instances, commence it.
Zoe Morris, a savings specialist at VoucherCodes.co.uk, highlighted, “Regardless of how well-prepared you believe you are, there are always a few essential Christmas items that catch you off guard, prompting a last-minute rush to the stores.” She added, “This year, Brits are delaying their shopping until the very last moment, with an additional 10 million individuals expected to make purchases during this ‘Panic Weekend’ compared to the previous year – representing a 26.2% surge in shoppers.”
Retailers can anticipate a nearly 13% increase in spending during the weekend compared to the previous year, which is positive news. Data on foot traffic showed a 5.1% rise last week, as reported by MRI Software, with high street locations emerging as the primary beneficiaries.
The report stated, “These trends offer encouragement to retail leaders as the Christmas countdown nears its end.” It further projected, “As the last 10 days of trading commence and ‘Super Saturday’ approaches rapidly, foot traffic is expected to further intensify.”
The accuracy of these optimistic projections will only be confirmed once stores start reporting their festive sales figures early next year. Concerns were raised that consumer spending had been affected by the late announcement of the Budget on November 26 and apprehensions regarding potential tax increases in the lead-up to the festive season.
A preliminary survey revealed that sentiment following Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ statement had not improved, with households reportedly displaying more pessimism about their future financial well-being compared to late 2023. Maryam Baluch, an economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, expressed, “The latest data on household confidence post the Autumn Budget is disheartening. Sentiment regarding the financial outlook for the next 12 months has dimmed to its gloomiest in two years.”
She continued, “Current financial conditions for households have reportedly worsened significantly in December, primarily due to a notable decrease in available funds for spending and an increasing reliance on additional debt. Confidence in the job market has also faltered, reaching its lowest point in six months, indicating a decline in job security.”
Baluch emphasized, “The combination of subdued household confidence and early signs of job insecurity underscores the ongoing challenges faced by UK households as they navigate an uncertain economic landscape at the turn of the year. Consequently, spending intentions have deteriorated in this increasingly challenging financial climate, suggesting that consumers are unlikely to provide a significant boost to the economy as we enter 2026.”
