Australian shoppers will splurge more than $1BILLION today on last-minute presents and seafood (with 700 tonnes of fish to be sold in Sydney alone)
- Australian shoppers set to splurge in the frantic rush ahead of Christmas Day
- Aussies spending 2.9 per cent more than prior years in December 25 build-up
- Sydney Fish Market expecting 100,000 visitors and 700 tonnes of seafood sold
- Figures show Australians are due to spend $730 each on their Christmas shop
Australian shoppers are set to spend $1 billion on Christmas Eve in the frantic last-minute rush for presents and seafood.
In the 10-day countdown to December 25 shoppers are predicted to blow around $18 billion nationwide, according to the National Retail Association.
That figure is expected to reach $51.4 billion around the country in the period between November 15 to Christmas Eve, according to the Australian Retailers Association.
Australian shoppers are set to spend $1billion on Christmas Eve in the frantic last-minute rush for presents and seafood (stock image)
Overall, the spend is up 2.9 per cent on previous years.
The NRA figures mean Australians will put on average $730 each towards their Christmas expenditure.
At the Sydney Fish Market, more than 100,000 visitors are expected in the day-and-a-half build up to Christmas and 700 tonnes of seafood is set to be bought.
At Sydney's Fish Market (pictured on December 23 in festive spirit), more than 100,000 visitors are expected in the day-and-a-half build up to December 25 and 700 tonnes of seafood is set to be bought
The popularity of seafood Christmas dinners is on the increase, as families turn away from the traditional ham or turkey and embrace prawns, oysters, salmon and barramundi.
Melbourne's Queen Victoria Market, which is Australia's largest, is expected to sell 6.3 tonnes of cherries alone.
'Black Friday and Cyber Monday both occurred in the lead up to Christmas and they have become a very important aspect of the Christmas trade,' ARA executive director Russell Zimmerman said.
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'Every retailer I've spoken to in the past couple of days has been very comfortable with the way sales have gone.'
Mr Zimmerman says the biggest increase is in online sales but food is at the top of the list when it comes to increased indulgence.
'Food has topped the increase this year,' he says.
The popularity of seafood Christmas dinners is on the increase, as families turn away from the traditional ham or turkey and embrace prawns, oysters, salmon and barramundi (Sydney fish market on Christmas Eve pictured)
'With the drought, there have been a lot of people affected by this drought in country towns. So prices of food have gone up.
'The other thing that's got a fairly high increase is hospitality, so eating out.'
Clothing sales during the Christmas period, meanwhile, has increased by 3.1 per cent.
'I don't think the discounting is as harsh and hard as it has been in years gone by.'
And retailers are predicting that Australians will spend a further $2.4 billion in the Boxing Day sales, an increase of 5.5 per cent on last year.
Most shopping centres will close by 6pm on Chrismas eve but some are staying open up until midnight.
In the 10-day countdown to Christmas Eve shoppers are predicted to blow around $18 billion nationwide, according to the National Retail Association
