Brits forecast to splurge record £94billion on Christmas - with big differences by region

Brits forecast to splurge record £94billion on Christmas - with big differences by region The average person will fork out a staggering £1,411 over the six-week Christmas period from mid-November to the end of December, it's been forecast Families are predicted to splurge a record near £94billion on Christmas this year, a report says. Despite the ongoing cost of living squeeze, the total estimated spending spree is almost 3% more than last year. The report from discount website VoucherCodes.co.uk claims the average person will fork out £1,411 over the six-week festive period, from mid-November to the end of December. From stocking fillers and baubles to brandy and mince pies, Brits will spend an extra £39.77 more per person than in 2025, it claims. However, the increase could be less about people feeling more generous and more about prices rising. The predicted 2.9% rise in festive spending is below the rate of inflation. It is one reason why, although people will be shelling out more, the amount of stuff they are expected to buy is forecast to be down on last Christmas. As a result, only 16% of Brits plan to spend more this festive season - down 15% from last year. The majority will keep budgets the same as previous years (56%), while a further 16% plan to spend less. That said, families are feeling more upbeat abut this year’s festive overall, VoucherCodes’ report suggests. The proportion of households saying they feel worse off has fallen from 33% in 2025 to 28% this year, with over a quarter (26%) now feeling better off compared to the 23% in the previous year. While most people are only just digging out their winter jumpers, it seems plenty of us are already actively planning for Christmas. Now we are in October, the survey found almost two-fifths of Brits admit this is when they normally start their Christmas shopping. Presents account for half of all festive household spending, or almost £12billion worth of gifts. Toys are the biggest outlay, at £2.1billion, followed closely by almost that much on electronics and clothing and footwear, as well as good old-fashioned money, gift cards and vouchers (£1.35billion). Aside from the presents under the tree, families are also expected to spend more than £8.5billion on festive food & drink, followed by a further £2.3billion on holiday travel and £650million on new decorations. The average Christmas dinner is expected to cost a hefty £52.30 per person this year, a 3.1% - or £1.60 - rise compared to last year. That covers the average supermarket price of everything from starters to desserts, sides to sauces, and even the festive tipples. The top spenders are in London, splurging £60.06 per person on their Christmas dinners. They are followed by the South East (£58.66) and South West (£57.46). As you head further North spending tends to decline, with the North East of England forking out the least on their festive spread (£41.96), then the North West (£42.92) and East Midlands (£43.07). While inflation plays a key role in pushing up prices, families themselves are budgeting to spend 5.1% more than they did last year. Londoners are also forecast to spend the most on Christmas, at almost £2,100 per person, followed by £1,783 in the rest of the south east and £1,585 in East Anglia. Living up to your reputation for being frugal when it comes to money, households in Yorkshire - and Humber - are expected to spend the least, at less than £1,200 on average, followed by the North East, at just over that. Two thirds of people expect to pay for Christmas from their pay packet, with another 17.6% on credit cards, with 18% will dip into savings. Pubs can also expect the annual boost from Christmas parties, with get togethers giving hospitality a forecast £13.3billion pick-me-up. Whilst total drinker number are predicted to be down compared to last year, an estimated 39.47m Brits will still be heading to pubs, bars and restaurants to celebrate the festive season, the report says. Brits also top the league in Europe when it comes to festive spending. This year’s £93.76billion total is well above the £76billion forecast for second place Germany, and £63billion for third placed France. With Christmas falling on a Friday this year, a third of those surveyed said they will not be taking any annual leave this Christmas, and instead maximising the long weekend. Clair Hughes, savings expert at VoucherCodes.co.uk, said: “If there’s one thing us Brits universally love, it’s going all out at Christmas time. From the traditional Christmas dinner to the annual school nativity, we don’t do half measures when it comes to celebrating the most magical time of the year. “But with the cost of living showing no signs of relief this Christmas, the pressure of delivering a picture-perfect Christmas gets harder each year. Our report found 70% of Brits like to get the best deals when buying Christmas presents, and starting your shopping early really is the best way.”