Brits to spend £3.7bn in Boxing Day sales as online shopping dominates

This year, it's anticipated that people in the UK will spend £3.7 billion during the Boxing Day sales, with many shoppers opting to relax at home instead of dealing with the crowds in stores.

E-commerce is expected to take the lead, with over 11 million shoppers expected to go online for bargains, marking a 3.6% increase from the previous year. Notably, leading retailers such as John Lewis and Marks & Spencer will remain closed on December 26, allowing their employees to enjoy a holiday break.

Beauty and tech products are predicted to be the top sellers, while fashion sales are likely to drop after a relatively warm autumn. A lot of shoppers have already started looking for bargains, with discounts kicking off as early as Christmas Eve.

Richard Lim, the CEO of Retail Economics, shared with The Guardian that Boxing Day has diminished in popularity due to the influence of American-style shopping events. He explained, "By the time Boxing Day arrives, most people have already completed their Christmas shopping, and there's not much enthusiasm left for another round of heavily discounted sales."

The slight 1.3 percent rise in spending shows that inflation is slowing down and wages are increasing, which is providing families with some relief after experiencing financial strain for several months.

The Boxing Day sales from last year experienced a 7.5 percent increase, largely fueled by a 9 percent jump in online shopping, while physical store sales only improved by 2 percent.

Experts forecast that sales in the health and beauty sector will continue to thrive through 2025, driven by trends on social media and the return to in-office work. Items such as high-end skincare products, cosmetics, and innovative beauty technology, like LED face masks, are gaining significant popularity.