Spending habits this Christmas 'will be affected by employment rates across the UK'
The unemployment rate in different regions across the UK is likely to affect spending trends this Christmas, according to the director of a retail data company.
Spending habits this Christmas 'will be affected by employment rates across the UK'”
Matthew Hopkinson, director of the Local Data Company, said people may be more likely to shop in town centres where there are not competing retail parks.
His comments follow news that 40% of retailers believe Christmas trading would be better than last year, with more people hitting the high streets with their cash, debit and credit cards.
According to a report by PR firm Kreab & Gavin Anderson, two-thirds of retailers also believe the consumer market is better than it had been in February, with more people using payment methods such as credit cards to buy goods.
The report also revealed 94% of retailers polled said they expected a very slow economic recovery, up from 76% who held this view in February.
Only 13% said the thought the market would pick up in the second half of this year.
Mr Hopkinsons said of likely shopping trends over the festive period: "I do think it is very specific on the geography of the centre and who is there, where they can shop, but also it will be based on their employment conditions."
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