2011ChristmasGifts: Online Christmas Sales Set to Rise by at Least 20%

    HAMPSHIRE, ENGLAND, November 05, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Official retail figures are stating that for every GBP10 spent in the UK, GBP1 is spent online. This dramatic news will be reflected by an increase in online sales this Christmas of at least 20%.

According to a spokesman from Christmas Gifts 2011, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has stated that during the month of September, GBP539,400,000 on average was spent online per week. The total spend for the UK in September was GBP5,613.9m per week on average.

This demonstrates that online shopping has a 9.6% share of total sales in the UK. In 2007, this figure was just 3% meaning that in just 4 years, online sales have more than trebled.

Some of this increase in online sales is attributed to the massive growth in the use of smartphones by shoppers. Price comparison and shopping apps on the iPhone and Android phones now make it very easy to make purchases online. Also, the start of a new academic year has meant an increase in sales of laptops and other computer equipment. This could also be a factor in the increase in online sales.

A recent survey suggests that the start of the Christmas shopping season begins in early November. It is expected that it really starts in earnest on the so-called "Black Friday", which this year is November 25th.

The survey asked 545 social media users when they plan to do buy their Christmas gifts this year? Many said that they had already started their Christmas shopping but 34% were going to start on Black Friday. Another 18% of those surveyed suggested they would start shopping in December and 5% would shop a few days before Christmas.

When asked how much people will be willing to spend on Christmas gifts this year, only 6% said less than GBP200. 24% said between GBP200 and GBP600, 23% between GBP600 and GBP800 and 16% between GBP1000 and GBP1300.

These figures are particularly interesting in light of the flat economic growth that most of the world is currently experiencing. In the US and UK economic growth is barely above %0 in continued fears of a double dip recession.

Christmas is always a time for increased spending but with these massive increases in online sales, questions are being asked whether it will be at the expense of the high street.

About Christmas Gifts 2011

Christmas Gifts 2011 is a Facebook fanpage created with the aim to help Christmas shoppers with their difficult buying decisions for Christmas.

It also offers plenty of advice for the perfect Christmas including Christmas recipes, decorating ideas plus news stories from around the world related to Christmas.

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