World Cup spending boost for UK

English football fans are set for a World Cup spending spree

The World Cup could inject £1.25bn into the UK economy, according to the Centre for Economics and Business Research.

Its report said the main motive for the increase will be higher consumer spending.

The World Cup shopping list ranges from tee-shirts and football memorabilia to flat screen TVs and electronic devices.

Off-licences and pubs are set to reap the benefits of a host of thirsty football fans, with sales rising by £285m, 1% of annual industry revenue.

Better than 2002

The advertising industry is tipped to see higher sales, with an estimated £300m spent on marketing during the tournament.

The report said some sponsors of the event could make revenue by turning the World Cup into a branding ploy, while others could be counting on greater exposure for their ads, due to higher numbers of television viewers.

The sales increase would mark a change from the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan.

Back then, the time difference meant European viewers were watching the matches in the early morning or even during work, which damaged productivity.

But the CEBR said that the expected fillip to the UK economy would be short-term.

The findings come as investment bank Goldman Sachs issued a report on the World Cup and economics, saying there could be a connection between population size and football success.