Britons are expected to spend a whopping £3.43 billion on last-minute Christmas shopping during what is being called “Panic Weekend.” VoucherCodes.co.uk predicts that 49.6 million individuals will be engaging in festive shopping this upcoming weekend, with 36.8 million of them planning to visit brick-and-mortar stores, providing a significant boost to town and city centers nationwide.
The spending frenzy is projected to peak at an average of £2.3 million per minute on “Super Saturday,” totaling £1.75 billion overall. This weekend is the final opportunity before Christmas for many to complete their gift purchases or kickstart their shopping process.
Zoe Morris, a savings expert at VoucherCodes.co.uk, highlighted the trend of leaving shopping until the last minute, noting that an additional 10 million people are expected to shop during this “Panic Weekend” compared to the previous year, marking a 26.2% increase in shoppers.
The positive news for retailers is that the anticipated spending surge this weekend is nearly 13% higher than last year. Data on foot traffic, indicating the number of shoppers out and about, showed a 5.1% increase last week, with the high street emerging as the preferred shopping destination.
As the countdown to Christmas approaches its final stretch, retail leaders are encouraged by these trends. With the last ten days of holiday shopping underway and “Super Saturday” drawing near, footfall is expected to rise further, especially as schools and offices close for the holiday week.
The actual outcome of this optimistic forecast will become evident when stores begin releasing their festive sales figures early next year. Concerns over the delayed Budget announcement on November 26 and fears of tax hikes leading up to Christmas had dampened consumer spending.
A recent snapshot survey indicates that sentiment following Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ statement had not improved, with households displaying more pessimism about their future financial well-being than in late 2023. The challenging economic environment has led to deteriorating household confidence, with signs of job insecurity emerging, which may impact consumer spending as we enter 2026.