Christmas shopping and spending statistics 2023

From watching the lights turn on in your local town centre to tucking into a roast dinner, there’s nothing quite like Christmas in the UK. We’ve surveyed Brits to find out how much they’re spending on Christmas shopping this year and how many are using credit cards. You can find the latest Christmas spending statistics below.

Christmas statistics: UK highlights

• Brits are expected to spend an average of £602 each on Christmas gifts in 2023, an increase of 40% from an average spend of £429 in 2022.
• The UK plans to spend a total of £27.6 billion on Christmas gifts in 2023, up 37% from £20.1 billion in 2022.
• 45.8 million adults in the UK (86%) plan to buy Christmas gifts in 2023, a decrease from 89% of adults in 2022.
• Almost 23 million Brits (43%) plan to use credit cards to cover their Christmas spending this year, with a total spend of over £14 billion on credit cards.
• Christmas credit card spending is expected to reach £627 on average per cardholder in 2023, almost a quarter (23%) of the average UK monthly salary (£2,730).
• Generation Z is planning to fork out the most on Christmas gifts, with an average spend of £828 each.

What is the average spend on Christmas presents in the UK?

The average person in the UK will be spending £602 on Christmas presents in 2023, according to recent Finder research. This is an increase of 40% from a planned spend of £429 per person in 2022.

In 2022, the average spend per person had dropped from £548 to £429 amidst the cost of living crisis. However, it seems that Brits are planning to loosen their purse strings for this year’s celebrations and spend more on Christmas gifts for their loved ones.

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How much are Brits spending on Christmas 2023?

The UK plans to spend £27.6 billion on Christmas gifts in 2023, up from a planned spend of £20.1 billion in 2022, an increase of £7.5 billion (37%). Projected spending on Christmas gifts has not been this high since 2019 and has risen significantly compared to a year ago.

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How many people in the UK buy Christmas gifts?

86% of UK adults are planning to buy Christmas gifts in 2023, around 45.8 million people. This is a decrease of 3 percentage points from the 89% of adults planning to buy Christmas gifts in 2022 and the lowest percentage since 2020.

How much do Brits spend on credit cards at Christmas?

Recent Finder research found that almost 23 million Brits (43%) plan to use credit cards to cover their Christmas spending in 2023, with a total spend of over £14 billion on credit cards. For those using their credit cards, the average spend is £627, which is almost a quarter (23%) of the average monthly salary in the UK (£2,730).

Gen Z has the highest percentage of members planning to put Christmas spending on their credit cards, with 3 in 5 (61%) doing so. Meanwhile, just 29% of baby boomers are planning to use their credit cards for festive spending.

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Christmas spending by generation: key statistics

Generation Z is planning to go all out with gifts this Christmas, with an average spend of £828 each. At the other end of the spectrum, baby boomers are trying to save on gift-giving this Christmas, with an average spend of just £390 each.

While each generation has at least 8 out of 10 members planning to buy Christmas gifts, the silent generation has the lowest number, with just 80% spending on presents.

Christmas spending by region: key statistics

People in Scotland are planning to spend the most of all UK regions in 2023, with an estimated average of £924 per person. This is 53% higher than the national average of £602. They are followed by London residents, who are planning to spend around £841 per person.

Meanwhile, residents in Wales are hoping to be a bit more restrained with their gift-giving, with an average planned spend of £422 per person, 30% lower than the national average.

Northern Ireland has the highest number of people indulging in gift buying this year, with 91% of residents hoping to spend at least some money on presents. This is 12 percentage points higher than the North West, where just 79% of residents state they will spend money on Christmas gifts in 2023.

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Christmas spending by gender

89% of women are planning to buy Christmas gifts in 2023, which is only a very slight decrease from the 90% planning to spend in 2022. Meanwhile, just 83% of men are planning to buy Christmas gifts, a 6 percentage point decrease from 89% in 2022.

While more women are planning to spend this Christmas, their average spend on gifts is estimated to be lower than men at £503. This is over £200 less than the estimated spend of men, where the average is an impressive £716.

• Previous research: Christmas shopping and spending statistics 2022

  Quick overview

  • In 2022, Brits are projected to spend £430 per person on Christmas gifts.
  • Spending on Christmas gifts will drop 22% from 2021, when the average Brit spent £548.
  • The United Kingdom will spend £20.1 billion on Christmas gifts in 2022, 21% less than in 2021 (£25.5 billion).
  • 9 in 10 (89%) of Brits will buy Christmas gifts in 2022 – this totals 40.6 million Brits.
  • Men are projected to spend £493 on gifts in 2022, while women plan to spend £370.
  • Those in Scotland (£606) plan to spend the most this Christmas, whereas East Midlands plan to spend the least (£336).

  Average Christmas spend per person in the UK

  According to our research, the average British adult will spend £430 on Christmas gifts in 2022, a decrease of £119 (22%) from 2021’s budget amid the cost of living crisis. This is also a decrease of £47 (10%) from 2020’s budget and £84 (16%) less than Christmas spend in 2019.

  How many Brits are spending this Christmas

  In 2022, 89% of Brits plan to buy Christmas gifts – which totals 46.6 million British adults. This is the same number as 2021, but it is an 8% decrease from 2020, when 97% of the UK population planned to spend on festive gifts.

  Overall Christmas spend in 2022

  Overall, people in the UK are planning to spend £20.1 billion this year on Christmas gifts – this is 21% (£5.5 billion) less than 2021’s figure of £25.5 billion. This is the lowest projected spend since the surveys started in 2019, where overall spending hit £26.9 billion – 33% more than in 2022. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, UK spending on Christmas gifts in 2020 was projected to be 21% higher at £24.3 billion.

  Christmas spend by generation

  91% of millennials plan to spend on gifts this Christmas, followed by 90% of baby boomers and 89% of generation X. The generations that are least likely to spend this year are generation Z and the silent generation, with 86% and 81% respectively planning on buying Christmas gifts.

  Christmas budgets by generation

  In 2022, generation X will spend the most, with a planned budget of £520 per person; however, this is a 10% decrease from 2021 and 2020. This is followed by generation Z, who plan to spend £519 per person this year, a 10% increase from 2021 and a 150% increase from 2020. Millennials plan to spend £445 this Christmas, 28% less than in 2021.

  While the silent generation were the highest spenders in 2021, they have dropped to the second-lowest spending generation in 2022, with a planned Christmas spend of £423. This is 40% less than in 2021.

  The generation planning to spend the least this Christmas is baby boomers, who plan to spend £334, 36% less than generation X (£520) plan to spend on gifts in 2022.

  Christmas spend by gender

  9 out of 10 (90%) women are planning to spend on Christmas gifts in 2022. This is 1% less than in 2021 and 8% less than in 2020. In contrast, 89% of men are planning to spend this Christmas, which is 2% more than in 2021 but 7% less than in 2020. This means that for the third consecutive year, more women than men are planning to buy gifts this Christmas.

  Regarding spending, men are planning to spend a third (33%) more than women, with a budget of £493; however, this is £143 less than in 2021 and £3 less than 2020’s spend.

  Women plan to spend £370 on presents this year – £102 less than in 2021 and £88 less than 2020’s figure.

  Christmas spending by region

  97% of those in Northern Ireland will be spending on gifts this Christmas, followed by Scotland (94%), West Midlands (92%), South East (91%) and Wales (91%). On the other end of the spectrum, just 83% of those in London will be buying gifts in 2022.

  According to our 2022 research, adults in Scotland will be spending the most this Christmas, with a planned spend of £606 per person. However, this is a decrease of 13% from 2021’s budget, when Scots planned to spend £700. London follows with a planned Christmas spend of £534 this year, followed by East of England (£466), Wales (£448) and Northern Ireland (£434) as the highest spending regions.

  Adults in the East Midlands have the lowest planned spend of £336 this Christmas, with the South West (£355), North West (£367), South East (£374) and North East (£416) as the regions planning to keep spending below the national average of £430.

  Methodology

  Finder commissioned Censuswide on 23–25 November 2022 to carry out a nationally representative survey of adults aged 18+. A total of 2,000 people were questioned throughout Great Britain, with representative quotas for gender, age and region.

• Previous research: Christmas shopping and spending statistics 2021

  How much are Brits planning to spend this Christmas?

  The percentage of people buying gifts is set to drop to 89%, an 8% decrease from last year’s 97%.

  According to our research, the average British adult will also fork out £548 on Christmas gifts in 2021, a £72 increase from 2020’s budget of £476 and just £35 more than Christmas spend in 2019. Overall, the UK is planning to spend £25.6 billion this year on Christmas gifting, up from last year’s figure of £24.2 billion and down from the £26.9 billion spent on Christmas gifts in 2019.

  Are Brits reducing their Christmas budget?

  Over two-thirds of the UK (69%) plan to cut costs on gifts in 2021. This is up from the 49% who planned to spend less on Christmas gifts in 2020 and the 60% who planned to reduce spending in 2019.

  In response to being asked how they would cut costs this year, 26% said they would set a price limit on gifts with friends and family, down from the 39% who planned to do so in 2019. Meanwhile, 17% of respondents said they will take advantage of the 2021 Black Friday sales to purchase gifts at a discounted price. 14% will re-use gift packaging, and 10% plan to get crafty by hand-making gifts instead.

  Christmas spend by gender

  91% of women are planning to spend on Christmas gifts in 2021. This is 7% less than the 98% who planned to spend in 2020. In contrast, only 87% of men will spend on gifts this Christmas, 9% less than the 96% who spent in 2020. This means that, for the second consecutive year, more women than men will be buying gifts this Christmas.

  Regarding spend, men will be spending 35% more than women, with a budget of £635. Women plan to fork out just £472 on presents this year – £14 more than 2020’s figure of £458.

  Cutting costs by gender

  73% of women in the UK will cut costs this Christmas, compared to 65% of men. This is up from the 51% of women who planned to spend less in Christmas 2020 and the 46% of men who planned to do the same.

  Christmas spend by generation

  92% of millennials plan to spend on gifts this Christmas, followed by 89% of the silent generation and 86% of generation Z. 83% of baby boomers will purchase presents this year, while just 77% of generation X will buy gifts.

  Christmas budgets by generation

  In 2021, the silent generation will spend the most, with a planned budget of £660 per person. This is a stark difference from last year’s results, which revealed generation X as the age group planning to spend the most in 2020 (£576). In 2020, generation Z had the lowest budget for festive gifts, with a planned spend of £207 each. In 2021, the lowest spenders will be generation X, with a planned spend of £471. This is just £1 less than generation Z’s planned spend of £472.

  Cutting costs by generation

  Our research found that 87% of millennials and 87% of generation Z will be cutting costs in 2021. This is followed by generation X (70%), baby boomers (50%) and finally, the silent generation (41%).

  In 2020, 67% of generation Z planned to cut costs, followed by millennials (61%). Meanwhile, just under a quarter of those in the silent generation said they would spend less.

  Christmas spend by region

  98% of those in Northern Ireland will be spending on gifts this Christmas, followed by the East of England (94%), Scotland (91%) and both South East and South West (90%). On the other end of the spectrum, just 84% of those in the East Midlands will be buying gifts in 2021.

  According to our 2021 research, Londoners will be splashing the most cash this Christmas, with a planned spend of £1,176. Interestingly, this is a 98% increase from Londoners’ planned spend of £595 in 2020 – which means that the Christmas budget in London has almost doubled in the past year.

  Those in Scotland plan to spend £700 this year (26% more than 2020’s planned spend of £555), while those in West Midlands have the lowest planned spend of £302. This is also the biggest drop in budget. In 2020, those in West Midlands planned to spend 33% more (£452).

  What are the most common lies that people tell around Christmas?

  People are most likely to be dishonest about the gifts they receive. 40% of Brits have said they liked a present when they didn’t, and 22% have been given something they already owned but pretended otherwise.

  The next most common untruth was people spending more than they could afford on Christmas presents and paraphernalia but keeping it a secret — 1 in 5 (19%) Brits have done this.

  Up next, some slightly less innocent lies: 15% of people have gifted something they already owned, claiming it was new, and 13% have lied about being busy over the holidays to avoid visiting or hosting people.

  All the lies

  Common lies	Percentage
  I received a present that I didn’t like but I told the person who gave it to me that I did like it	40%
  I received a present that I already owned, but I told the person who gave it to me that I didn’t already have it	22%
  I spent more than I could afford on presents and/or decorations, but I didn’t tell anyone	19%
  I have given a present that I already owned and claimed it was new	15%
  Pretended to be busy around Christmas so we/I didn’t have to visit or host friends or family	13%
  I told people that I enjoy Christmas, but I actually don’t enjoy the Christmas period	10%
  I claimed that a present I gave to a family member or friend cost more than it actually did	7%
  I claimed that food I served was homemade, when it was actually purchased from a store	4%
  I claimed that a gift I gave was homemade, when it was actually purchased from a store	4%

  Reemul Balla, shopping expert at finder.com, comments on this research:

  While there’s an increase in overall spending, fewer people across the country are actually planning to buy gifts this year. Considering energy and fuel prices are on the rise, this suggests many Brits are planning to tighten their purse strings to avoid a hard pinch. So, while we’re all looking forward to the festive period, here are some simple tips to make the most of your Christmas without breaking the bank:

  • Agree to a price limit on gifts with family and friends.

  This was the most popular Christmas money-saving hack over the past 2 years, according to our research. It’s an easy idea likely to come as a relief to others when you suggest it.

  • Give an experience as a present

  A Christmas gift doesn’t need to be an item that you buy for someone. Why not think of something that would brighten someone’s day that doesn’t involve reaching deep into your wallet? It could be as simple as breakfast in bed, planning a nice walk or making something.

  • Christmas entertainment

  If you want to broaden your TV show horizons this Christmas, make use of 1-month free trials from the likes of Amazon Prime and Hayu. Put the date in your diary before the trial ends to review or cancel it so you don’t default into a subscription you may not want.

• Previous research: Christmas shopping and spending statistics 2020

  From watching the lights turn on in your local town centre to tucking into a roast dinner, there’s nothing quite like a white Christmas in the UK. Being such a celebrated time of year, 1 in 10 Brits begin their Christmas shopping as early as July. We did some research to find out how much Brits are spending on gifts over this holiday season (2020).

  How much are Brits planning to spend this Christmas?

  According to our research, an average British adult will fork out £476 on Christmas gifts in 2020, £37 less than the £513 average in 2019. This means the UK is planning to spend £24.2 billion on festive gifts this year. This is 10% less than the £26.9 billion spent on Christmas gifts in 2019.

  Why are people spending less on Christmas this year?

  According to our research, 49% of people are planning to spend less on Christmas gifts in 2020. We asked these people why they spent less this year, and this is what they told us.

  The impact of the pandemic on people’s finances was understandably the most common reason for people spending less (20%). The next most common reason for spending less was that people are not planning to visit shops this year (16%), followed by people not seeing their friends/extended relatives (15%) and not wanting to buy gifts/expensive gifts as it may make people feel bad if they don’t return the favour (14%). Over 1 in 8 Brits (14%) said they don’t see the point in spending as much as usual when we are faced with lockdowns and restrictions on our movement. Therefore, it is clear the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting our Christmas spending.

  How are people reducing their Christmas spending?

  According to our 2019 research, 3 in 5 (60%) are planning to reduce spending on presents in a range of ways.

  Setting a price limit with family and friends is the most popular method, with 2 in 5 (39%) intending to do this. 1 in 7 (15%) Brits are giving experience gifts like picnics or massages to reduce costs, while 13% of Brits say they will make gifts to cut costs.

  It is interesting to see so many of us thinking about how we can make our money go further or focus on experiences this Christmas. It can be a great feeling to give or receive a present, but it doesn’t need to break the bank. You will need to think about what your family and friends will value, but why not consider doing something really meaningful, like learning to cook a new dish, making something or planning a day out somewhere? These could last longer in the memory than a product.”

  Gender differences

  Men are planning to spend £458.13 on Christmas presents in 2020, £37.31 more than women who are expected to spend £458.13 on average this year. However, 98% of women said they are planning to spend on Christmas compared to 96% of men. Therefore, the overall total spend of men and women is estimated to be the same, around £12.1 billion.

  Gender differences: Why are people spending less on Christmas this year?

  Over half of women (51%) said they are planning to spend less this Christmas, compared to 46% of men. The most common reason for spending less for both genders was the impact of COVID-19 on their finances, with 21% of women and 18% stating this reason. Find out how men’s and women’s responses differ below:

  Generational differences

  Generation X (those born 1965–1980) is planning to spend £576 on average on festive gifts. This is higher than any other generation. At the other end of the scale is generation Z (those born after 1996), who intend to spend £207 each.

  What generations are spending more or less on Christmas this year?

  Our research found that generation Z is most likely to spend less this year (67%), followed by millennials (61%). The general rule was the younger the shopper, the more likely they are to be planning to spend less this year. Therefore, the generation who said they are least likely to spend less is the silent generation (1928-1945), with just under a quarter of individuals saying they are going to spend less.

  Regional differences

  According to our 2020 research, people from Wales are planning to spend the most on Christmas gifts (£611). Londoners are expected to be the second-highest spenders (£595), followed by Scotland (£555), Northern Ireland (£519) and the North East (£485). Residents from the East Midlands are predicted to spend the least this Christmas, spending £397.

  Methodology

  Finder.com commissioned OnePoll in November 2020 to carry out a nationally representative survey of adults aged 18+.

  A total of 2,000 people were questioned throughout Great Britain, with representative quotas for gender, age and region.

  Jon Ostler, CEO (UK) at finder.com is available for further comment, opinions or interview regarding the research.

For all media enquiries, please contact

Matt Mckenna
UK communications manager
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