| Christmas is upon us yet again, meaning it’s time to | | | | away. The important thing to remember if you are |
| show friends and family how much they are loved by | | | | going do your Christmas shopping online is to allow for |
| the exchange of gifts, which is good news for the | | | | enough time for shipping in order to get items on time. |
| retail sector. Unfazed by the recent credit crunch, a | | | | Consumer spending on high-tech items is also set to |
| new survey by professional services firm Deloitte | | | | increase. Deloitte found that 44% of the respondents |
| shows that consumer spending on Christmas presents | | | | were planning to buy a computer game as a gift, up |
| in the UK is likely to increase 7% from last year, from | | | | from 38% last year. 26% said they expected to |
| £662 per person to £706, despite consumer | | | | purchase an MP3 player, an increase from 20% last |
| pessimism towards the state of the economy. | | | | year. If you aren’t looking to shell out the kind of |
| Furthermore, The Annual Christmas Retail Survey, | | | | cash required for a Nintendo Wii or an iPhone, there |
| released this week and available at the Deloitte | | | | are plenty of more affordable gadgets available as an |
| website, predicts that this Christmas the most | | | | alternative. Most retailers will have a selection of |
| prominent trends in shopping are the increased use of | | | | Christmas gifts for him to satisfy most men’s inner |
| the internet and demand for high-tech items. | | | | geek, from Simpsons Doughnut Makers to |
| The survey, which gathered, information from 1000 | | | | radio-controlled Daleks. There are also now plenty of |
| respondents, found that twice as many are expected | | | | gadgets aimed specifically at women, from |
| to buy their gifts online compared to last year’s | | | | microwaveable slippers to USB-powered vacuum |
| 14%. The survey also found that only one in 10 will | | | | cleaners and hand spa centres. |
| spend a full day on the high street. This trend was | | | | In the end, Christmas is more about giving than |
| aided by consumers becoming more familiar and | | | | receiving, and despite the trend towards increased |
| confident with shopping online and improved customer | | | | spending; it is the thought that counts behind each |
| service from e-tailers. The advantage of the internet | | | | present. With a little over a month away until Christmas |
| as a shopping resource is obvious – consumers can | | | | it is should be easy to find gifts for most loved ones, |
| avoid queues and items being out of stock while price | | | | whatever your budget, online or on the highstreet. |
| comparison between different providers is only a click | | | | |