Overview
- Barclays, which analyses a large share of UK card transactions, projects £3.6 billion in Boxing Day sales, down from £4.6 billion last year.
- Only 26% of people plan to take part, yet the average shopper expects to spend £253 versus £236 in 2024, and 69% say cost pressures are shaping decisions.
- Major retailers have launched steep post‑Christmas promotions, with discounts reported at up to about 70% across tech, fashion and home categories.
- More shoppers are using technology to hunt deals, with 37% reporting AI or other smart tools (53% among 18‑34s) for price tracking, comparisons and alerts, and experts advise research and stacking loyalty or cashback offers.
- Reports show busy queues at some retail parks but quieter in‑store scenes elsewhere and strong online activity, as banks and consumer groups warn of AI‑driven scams and fake order messages; in Australia, spending is estimated at more than A$3.1 billion.