An estimated £160 million worth of Christmas decorations were imported into the UK during 2006 to meet consumer demand, with each household spending an average of £25 a year on decorations.
According to Verdict, 4.5 per cent of total Christmas spending will be done online.
Commenting on Christmas 2006, BRC Director General, Kevin Hawkins, said:
"These are encouraging predictions for the retail sector after a tough year which has seen a slump in consumer confidence, escalating costs and falling prices. The high street is definitely eager for a boom Christmas.
"Christmas is by far the most important time of the year for many retailers and it is also the best indicator of how confident consumers are heading into the New Year. I think sales figures this Christmas will give us a genuine read on the state of economy in the short term."
British Retail Consortium
marketing@alchempro.com
