Retailers are predicting the next seven days to be the biggest of the year as shoppers move their Christmas preparations into top gear, according to weekly Christmas spending projections released by the Australian National Retailers’ Association (ANRA).

According to ANRA’s lastest figures, more than $8.3 billion is expected to be spent nationally this week with the average family anticipated to spend about $1,060 on Christmas preparations including gifts, food, liquor, and dining.

This year ANRA estimates $32.6 billion will be spent in pre-Christmas sales on gifts, food, liquor and dining

“Consumer spending is important for the national economy and it is encouraging that retail sales are expected to surge by around 10 per cent compared to last week with Australian shoppers anticipated to spend about $750 million more than the previous week,” Anna McPhee, ANRA CEO, said.

“Many retailers will offer extended trading hours over the next 10 days to meet heightened customer demand across the peak period. The extension of trading hours in the lead up to Christmas has been particularly successful in previous years and highlights how consumer expectations are changing.  Consumers want to be able to shop at times that are convenient,” she said.

ANRA’s survey of Christmas shoppers looked at Christmas shopping tactics between men and women and found differences in their approaches.

“Twice as many men than women expect to do most of their Christmas shopping between now and Christmas – with just under one in four men admitting they’ll probably do most of their shopping quite close to Christmas,” McPhee said.

“Our survey showed women take a much more structured approach to Christmas shopping with one in four shopping throughout the year – compared to just 16 per cent of men. Women are also around twice as likely to buy fun things like toys (15 per cent versus eight per cent ) and more so experiences (six per cent versus two per cent).

“Christmas shoppers told us they will be shopping primarily for immediate family (81 per cent). While 18 per cent admitted to buying a gift for themselves and 15 per cent said a gift for the family pet was also on the Christmas to do list,” McPhee said.