UK retailers are banking on a last-minute surge in shopping this weekend, with households expected to spend £3.4bn — more than 12% higher than the same period in 2024. Analysts GlobalData, working for Vouchercodes.co.uk, predict nearly 50 million shopping trips will be made as consumers rush to complete their Christmas purchases.
Super Saturday, 20 December, is set to be the busiest day, with 26.5 million people forecast to spend £1.75bn. Experts suggest shoppers have delayed buying gifts amid uncertainty over personal finances following the autumn Budget, and many are waiting for their December pay packets before splashing out.
After a muted Black Friday, retailers have launched deep discounts to tempt cautious customers. Clothing chains Primark, New Look and H&M have cut prices, while toy specialist The Entertainer is offering up to 60% off more than 950 items. Currys has noted that the Budget has not improved consumer sentiment.
The late rush is expected to benefit high streets, as concerns grow about online deliveries arriving on time. Many retailers, including Next and Currys, have cut off next-day delivery by 22 December, while Marks & Spencer and John Lewis allow online orders until 23 December for in-store pickup.
Price wars have also erupted on festive essentials. Morrisons, Aldi and Lidl are selling Christmas vegetables for just 5p, while Sainsbury’s and Tesco charge 15p. Tesco has cut turkey prices to £2.50 per kilo for Clubcard members, matching Lidl’s offer on small birds.
Despite a pre-Christmas interest rate cut from the Bank of England, consumer confidence remains low. Over a third of shoppers plan to spend less due to the Budget, according to advisory firm RSM. However, Accenture’s research shows more than half of Britons intend to keep their Christmas budget steady by switching to discount supermarkets or using AI chatbots to find bargains.
