Nearly half

of us spent less on Christmas this year, a survey suggests.

The poll of 2,000 people by industry analysts at Retail Economics found 47% had cut back, 25% splashed out more and the rest said they had spent the same.

The finding could be telling for retailers over the crucial festive period.

The survey, carried out on Christmas Eve, also discovered that 67% of people did some of their Christmas shopping online this year.

Cyber giant Amazon was the most popular retailer, followed by Asda, Tesco and Marks & Spencer, it suggested.

Meanwhile, analysts at Shore Capital reckon supermarkets will be among the big winners this Christmas.

A spike in food prices was good for takings, but not so great for families.