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Friday, 29 December 2006, 00:00 GMT

Britons set to go on sales spree

Shopper taking a breather after a frenetic morning's shopping Bargain hunters plan to splash out £1.8bn more on the January sales than they did last year, a survey from insurer Direct Line suggests.

More than £5.5bn will be spent by Britons during the sales, it claims.

In preparation for the shopping binge, 2.7 million Britons asked for shopping vouchers as Christmas presents.

Londoners are set to spend the most in the sales, about £171 each on average, while people in Wales estimate that they will spend nearer £73 on average.

Direct Line surveyed 2,300 Britons to find out their spending intentions during the sales, and the survey comes at a time when the amount of outstanding consumer debts has been climbing quickly.

Retailer news

The findings of the Direct Line survey seem to be bear out the initial post-Christmas news from retailers.

Retail analysts Footfall reported that the number of shoppers visiting top stores across the UK on Tuesday was up 7% on last year.

Selfridges reported first-day sales 14% higher than a year ago, while the Trafford Centre near Manchester saw sales 3% up on last year.

Business group the CBI said that sales had been better than expected in the early run-up to Christmas.



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Related to this story:
Poor maths 'fails' sale shoppers (27 Dec 06 |  UK )
Shoppers give up sleep for sales (27 Dec 06 |  Kent )
Shops put hope in New Year sales (26 Dec 06 |  Business )
Shoppers in late Christmas rush (23 Dec 06 |  Business )
Festive fortunes improve at shops (20 Dec 06 |  Business )
Warning on weak Christmas trade (03 Dec 06 |  Business )
Stores launch festive sales blitz (30 Nov 06 |  Business )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
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Footfall
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