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Buyers participating this year boxing day sales The average is planning to spend more than £250 – but fewer people are planning to take part in discount bonuses than last year – a survey reveals.
The average Boxing Day shopper is planning to spend £253 this year, up from £236 in 2024. barclays found.
Just over a quarter (26%) of those surveyed plan to spend on Boxing Day this year, down from 28% in 2024.
Barclays estimated that people will spend £3.6 billion during the Boxing Day sales this year, down from a projected £4.6 billion in 2024.
Its survey research shows that clothing, shoes and accessories top shoppers’ wish lists this year, followed by food and drink, beauty products, home goods and discounted Christmas items.
A quarter (25%) of people will only buy what they consider “essential” in a sale.
Retail’s “Golden Quarter” – which includes Black Friday, Cyber Monday and post-Christmas sales – is traditionally a time for consumers to look for bargains.
But there are signs that buyers’ budgets are being stretched, with seven in 10 (69%) people in the latest survey saying cost pressures are affecting their spending, up from 47% when similar research was conducted in 2024.
Opinium Research conducted the latest survey among 2,000 people across the UK in November.
Two-fifths (37%) of those surveyed for Barclays said they use AI (artificial intelligence) and/or “smart” tools when shopping, rising to more than half (53%) of those aged 18 to 34.
People Said AI and smart tools help them research products, compare prices and deals, generate gift ideas and set personalized alerts.
The research indicated that for many people, the technology provides reassurance and efficiency – 72% said it saves time by narrowing down the best deals – but half (50%) said they are concerned that AI tools could encourage overspending.
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Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, said: “Shoppers have shown how cost-conscious they are throughout 2025, and we expect we will see this during the Boxing Day sales, especially as AI empowers consumers to shop better and seek out the best deals.
“Despite this, many people still enjoy the social and sensory experience of visiting shops. Those who visit the high street may benefit from both larger budgets, perhaps holding out for sales, and less competition from potentially short-selling shoppers.
“Boxing Day is still an important moment for retailers, filled with Christmas memories, but it has evolved to reflect modern consumer demands.
“This year, we are likely to see a balanced mix of online convenience, experiential retail and increasingly conscious shopping.”