Australians are expected to spend A$1.6bn on Boxing Day, with total post-Christmas spending forecast at A$3.832bn, a 4.4% increase on 2024. However, the consumer regulator has warned that even major retailers are using deceptive sales tactics, including fake countdown timers and misleading discounts.
Catriona Lowe, deputy chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, urged shoppers to focus on the final price rather than advertised discounts. The regulator wrote to several major retailers after a Black Friday sweep revealed potentially misleading strategies.
Household goods and fashion are expected to dominate, with forecast sales of A$476m and A$216m respectively. Department stores should see A$123m in sales, up 5.1% from last year. Finder predicts one in three Australians will shop the sales, spending A$3.1bn overall.
Despite the strong forecast, consumer confidence remains low. The ANZ-Roy Morgan rating dropped to 81.5, below the 2025 weekly average of 86.3. Experts warn that a potential interest rate rise by the Reserve Bank could further stifle sentiment.
Retail expert Prof Gary Mortimer noted that tradition keeps Boxing Day sales popular even when confidence is down. KPMG’s Brendan Rynne said cautious consumers are limiting discretionary spending to sale periods, which may boost Boxing Day but moderate growth throughout the year.
