Super Saturday price cuts for shoppers

STRUGGLING stores will offer more price cuts and promotions today in an attempt to trigger a ‘ Super Saturday’ shopper stampede.

Around 20 per cent of all retail spending occurs in the two months before Christmas and this weekend is the busiest of the year for shops.

Shoppers who hold out until Monday and Tuesday could get even bigger last- minute discounts than today’s, and bumper Boxing Day sales are also expected.

Most major fashion chains have been running half- price promotions in the past week and these will rise to 70 per cent or more on some products.

There will also be deals on beauty products and perfumes, as well as technology goods and household appliances that would not normally go on sale until Boxing Day.

Research by the accountants Deloitte found discounts ranging from 8 per cent to 78 per cent, and it expects the average to top 50 per cent by Christmas Eve for the first time. Springboard, which measures shopper numbers, said the figure over the past week was down by around 5 per cent on last year. But it is expected to peak today as people rush to the shops, in particular supermarkets, with food accounting for 40 per cent of the overall £ 82billion of festive spending.

Accountants PwC suggest average consumer spending on Christmas will fall from £ 421 last year to £ 408 this year.

Shoppers are continuing to turn to the internet but price cuts online are generally similar to those in retailers’ stores.