Irish consumers are set to splash the cash more than any other European country this Christmas, with each household set to spend on average €894.
The Examiner reports today that the annual Deloitte consumer survey of Christmas spending predicts the average spend in more than 1.6m households in Ireland will hit €1.5bn, though Ireland is one of five countries where consumers plans to spend less.
The budget breakdown shows that the majority of budgets will go on gifts (30%), followed by food (28%), and socialising (24%).
The report indicated that 22% of Irish consumers will focus more on buying products and gifts that are on sale, while 13% will focus more on buying useful gifts.
And when it comes to getting in there early with the shopping, Irish consumers seem to have their finger on the pulse. 47% of Irish consumers’ Christmas shopping has been completed before December and 32% said they will buy their gifts in the first half of December, with the remaining 21% spreading it over Christmas.
And despite the economic climate, each child will receive on average six gifts this Christmas, with books, money and clothes/shoes the most popular gift ideas.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
