Queenslanders join in huge splurge on post-Christmas shopping

Australians are expected to spend close to $20 billion from Boxing Day to the middle of January, with Queensland shoppers playing their part.

Aussie shoppers are set to spend $19.5 billion across the country from Boxing Day to mid-January.

Forecast post-Christmas sales figures from the Australian Retailers Association and Roy Morgan also revealed sales were up 3.9 per cent nationally compared to last year.

Queensland is predicted to have had one of the strongest growths in post-Christmas sales, forecast to be up 7.9 per cent. NSW is predicted to be up 4.4 per cent.

In 2019 Queenslanders spent $3.8bn on post-Christmas sales, which is expected to increase to $4.1bn.

Shoppers out in force in Brisbane’s Queensland Street Mall between Christmas and New Year. Picture: Liam Kidston.

Food is forecast to have had the biggest growth of sales in Queensland in the period, increasing 10.5 per cent with $8.5bn expected to be spent.

While overall the picture is good for the retail sector, there are winners and losers.

With so many Australians stuck at home this year, sales of household goods have increased dramatically, up 12 per cent.

It isn’t projected to be good news for fashion retailers though, with the ARA estimating a downturn of 5.2 per cent.

ARA CEO Paul Zahra said clothing stores have struggled.

“Most of the time we update our wardrobe because we have an event to go to. People staying at home are half dressing or dressing for Zoom, and that’s had a massive impact on the fashion industry … my heart really goes out to fashion retailers,” Mr Zahra said.

The massive shift to online shopping has kept many retailers afloat this year and it is now essential for a business to have an online presence.

“They can’t be a retailer without being multichannel … it’s just impossible to be successful,” Mr Zahra said.

“For retailers Boxing Day is the biggest day of the retail calendar … the traffic was down on last year as expected because we did see the big shift to online shopping.

“Traffic has been down for most of the year because people have been purposeful shopping, on a mission with a list or maybe even click and collect … (so we are) seeing less of the family outing.”

Roy Morgan chief executive Michelle Levine said this year’s government support provided a significant windfall to millions of Australians.