11.6M URGE TO SPLURGE
Cyber Monday record New Covid sparks rush
A RECORD 11.6 million Brits are expected to hit the shops in a Cyber Monday frenzy.
The surge will be driven by supply chain fears and worries the new Covid variant could force stores to close again.
Experts reckon more will flock to shops tomorrow than on Black Friday in a boost for our ailing high streets.
It is estimated almost £3.5billion will be spent on Cyber Monday, with £1.15bn in stores and £2.23bn online.
This would lead to the four-day retail bonanza netting £9.1bn, said analysts at shopping site Vouchercodes.
The company’s Anita Naik added: “Black Friday weekend has been supercharged this year, with bumper shopper numbers and retail sales.
“Retailers often save bonus discounts for Cyber Monday to round off Black Friday weekend and attract additional customers.
“If shoppers have been holding off on a big purchase or have items to cross off their Christmas list, tomorrow could be the perfect day.”
Currys have half-price deals while John Lewis, Argos and Boots are offering big discounts.
Among the bargains are a £899 Samsung Surface Book 4 laptop for £699 at John Lewis and also a £499 Acer Chromebook Spin-513 laptop for £299
at Argos.
Spending
A £79.99 Bosch Tassimo Style coffee machine is being sold for £29 at Currys. It looks as if spending has topped prepandemic levels, with TVS, laptops and tablets popular.
Barclaycard, which handles £1 in every £3 spent on cards, says Black Friday transactions were up 23% on 2020 and 2.4% on 2019.
Kyle Monk, of the British Retail Consortium, which represents big high street names, said: “Overall spending is likely to be higher than ever.”
Independent shops also reported brisk trade over the weekend.
Shoplocalonline.org founder Jackie Mulligan, in the Government’s high street task force, said: “The response we’re getting is better than expected.
“People are voting for small businesses with their feet, which is highly encouraging as we enter the critical festive sales period.”
Retail intelligence firm Springboard, which monitors shopper numbers, said the sector is back to “full throttle”.
A Confederation of British Industry survey highlighted fears among shoppers they will not get wishlist gifts if they leave it until the last minute.
CBI economist Ben Jones said: “Christmas seems to have come early for retailers, with clothing and department stores in particular seeing a big upward swing in sales volumes.”