Irish shoppers are expected to spend €18 million an hour today

CHRISTMAS shoppers will spend a phenomenal €18 million an hour today.

The Christmas Eve bonanza, expected to top €200 million, traditionally benefits jewellers, stereo and hi-fi stores along with book shops and music stores.

As Christmas shopping reaches a crescendo, experts believe consumer spending this year will hit €3.5 billion, an estimated 3% growth on last year’s festive season sales.

Irish families are expected to guzzle 20 million bottles of wine, 106 million bottles of soft drinks and 64 million cans of beer.

The nation is expected to consume enough beer and other drinks to fill more than 100 Olympic pools.

The figures were revealed yesterday by Repak at the launch of its Green Christmas campaign.

The average household spend this Christmas is expected to be €1,066 compared to 1,395 in 2002 when the retail sector experienced a record growth.

“In the consumer’s mind, the country was still in a state of boom this time last year,” said Anita Jones, group marketing manager for Clery’s in Dublin’s O’Connell Street. “This year has been more challenging for the retail sector with consumers more price conscious and aggressively looking for value.”

Spending trends, she said, showed cautious pricing was a stronger issue with consumers than the traditional frantic purchasing.

Pat Delaney of the Small Firms Association said surveys pointed to a total spend this Christmas of €680 for every man, woman and child.

“I have spoken with many retailers in the last 24 hours and some of their anxieties have been lifted. They strongly anticipate a bumper Christmas Eve with a total last-minute spend of €200 million.”

Cork Business Association chief James O’Sullivan said city centre traders remained optimistic of an average 2% increase in overall sales despite a worrying start to the shopping season.

“Nationally, consumers have been more cautious about their Christmas spend and, earlier this month, some stores were preparing for a significant slump. December 8, traditionally a big shopping day in Cork, did not live up to expectations this year but traders are anticipating a bumper Christmas Eve,” he said.

Mr O’Sullivan warned the pre-Christmas discounts, in many furnishing and clothing stores, could impact significantly on January sales’ figures.

A survey conducted by the Deloitte & Touche Consumer Business Group said the Christmas spend in Ireland was expected to double Belgium’s estimate of €608 per person.

The group’s survey showed 28% of Irish consumers expected to spend more this year than in 2001 while 46% expected to spend the same amount as last year. However, 24% planned to spend less than in 2002.

Repak also said consumers will generate enough packaging waste over Christmas to cover Lansdowne Road rugby pitch 336 times.

Andrew Hetherington Chief Executive of Repak, said: “This is the Christmas hangover from a consumer driven society. Packaging waste generated by Irish householders increases by 30% over the Christmas period.”