Christmas Panic Weekend 2024: The Shopping Sprint
Mark your calendars for 16‑17 December – the so‑called Panic Weekend where shoppers will hoard every last sparkle and the retail world will feel the jingle of pounds hit by the bell.
What the Numbers Say
- Spend: An eye‑watering £3.31 bn is expected to be poured into both high street stores and online carts.
- Growth vs 2022: That’s a 15.3 % jump from last year’s £2.87 bn.
- Customers: A whopping 38 million shoppers – 3.8 million more than in 2023 – will be in store or online.
Saturday – The Shopping Powerhouse
On Super Saturday (16th Dec), the traffic will be at its peak:
- In‑store shoppers: 12.7 million people throwing their wallets at the high street, spending £1.15 bn – a 19 % rise.
- Online buyers: 6.8 million people adding to their carts from the sofa, pulling in £0.61 bn.
- Total Saturday spend: £1.76 bn – the highest single‑day haul for the week.
Sunday – Still a Crowd‑Pleaser
Even after the weekend, Stampede Sunday (17th Dec) keeps the rush alive:
- In‑store: 10.3 million people buy on the ground floor, spending £0.86 bn.
- Online: 8.2 million e‑shoppers click away, bringing in £0.68 bn.
- Sunday total: £1.55 bn – second only to Saturday.
Retailer Take‑away
“Retailers need to starve for convenience and value,” says Senior Commercial Director Michael Brandy, “the last minutes of Christmas demand fast‑track, discount‑heavy shelves.”
Two top tips to win loyalty during the crunch:
Show off your best gifts, food and drink up front, and sprinkle in make‑or‑break deals to snail‑fast the checkout line.
Tax Discounters: Keep Your Cash
With cashback rules and VAT rebates on holiday purchases, those extra savings can be tucked into your budget to soak up more of that Christmas cheer.
Stay Updated
Want real‑time updates on this wild shopping wave? Subscribe now and never miss the next big markdown.
