Six in ten Britons intend to be more price-conscious this Christmas, following an immediate drop in consumer confidence after the Budget, a snap poll by Currys has found.
Almost half (48%) plan to use Black Friday to help manage festive spending, while 42% said the Budget had made them more likely to hunt down good deals. However, a pre-Budget study showed 66% of Brits consider Black Friday a con, and 59% do not believe most discounts are real.
Shoppers are increasingly turning to technology: 24% use AI tools like ChatGPT or Google Gemini to find deals, track prices, or plan budgets, and 82% will use AI for gift ideas. Sales of practical items have surged, with portable heaters up 94%, electric blankets up 61%, smartwatches up 55%, beauty tools up 35%, and STEM toys up 101%.
Ed Connolly, chief commercial officer at Currys, said: “As customers digest the impact of the Budget, we’re seeing people think even more carefully about how to stretch their money – and that means hunting out genuine value.” Currys has launched an ‘Our Lowest Ever Price’ event to reassure customers of the best deals.
