Consumer confidence is driving higher Christmas spending plans this year compared to last. Figures from The British Consumer Index show more people intend to purchase consumer electronics, domestic appliances, and phones. Spending on consumer electronics and phones is expected to rise the most, followed by domestic appliances and entertainment. This rise in anticipated spending is likely due to the improvement in financial optimism seen since late 2012. Younger consumers aged under 35 will account for around half of potential phone and electronics purchases.

1. Improved Consumer Confidence drives Christmas Spending Plans
Figures from The British Consumer Index show the rise in the number of people likely to
purchase this Christmas in a number of categories particularly Consumer Electronics,
Domestic Appliances or Phones.
Whilst last year saw a modest rise in the number of people buying, this year is set to be significantly
better.
Looking at some of the sectors monitored by The
British Consumer Index, several are showing a rise
in the number of people intending to make
purchases.
This contrasts with last year when results where
more mixed.
The chart to the left shows the comparison of 2012
with 2011 and 2013 with 2012.
Consumer Electronics and Phone are the two big
winners with considerably more growth predicted
this year compared to last. These sectors are
closely followed by Domestic Appliances and
‘Going Out’.
This rise in anticipated spending could be due, at
least in part, to the rise in financial optimism which
has been apparent since late 2012.
While this has fallen back slightly over the last
couple of months, consumer financial optimism is
still significantly higher than in the run up to
Christmas in both 2011 and 2012.
Optimism is highest among the under 35 age
groups which is the prevalent age group for the
purchase of phones and consumer electronics.
45% of phone sales and 48% of consumer
electronics are set to come from this age group.
The 35 to 54 age group do, however, also make
up 45% of potential phone and consumer electronics buyers.
© DataTalk Research Ltd December 2013
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2. The British Consumer Index is part of The British Population Survey which monitors Purchase Intention,
Purchase Influences, Marketing Communication Channel recall, acceptability and responsiveness plus
sector acceptability every month. The above figures are based on face to face in home interviews with a
representative sample of the British population. Sample size; 47,936
Further details of these figures against a broad range of classifications are available.
Contact:
Steve Abbott
Director; The British Consumer Index
Tel; 0203 286 1981
Email; stevea@thebps.co.uk
© DataTalk Research Ltd December 2013
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