28 Dec 2013

2013 sets new spending records

9:45 pm on 28 December 2013

Shoppers smashed Christmas Eve spending records this year, while Boxing Day followed suit as the busiest on record.

Figures released on Friday by Paymark show $238.4 million was spent on 24 December, up 18.5% on last year.

The company said it was the most money spent through the Paymark system on Christmas Eve, as well as the highest number of transactions, at 4.35 million.

Paymark said Thursday was the busiest Boxing Day recorded as well, with an increase of 12% on spending through the network, an increase of $14 .4 million on last year.

Food and liquor retailers and department stores were the biggest winners on Christmas Eve.

Boxing Day deals at clothing and jewellery stores, appliance and whiteware stores, electronics retailers and furniture stores were the most popular.

A spokesperson for Paymark, Paul Whiston, says spending also increased throughout the year, with the average total increase to the end of November up 5.5% on 2012.