Australians to spend $2 billion on Boxing Day sales

Bargain hunters are out in force across the country to take advantage of heavily discounted prices.

Early morning shoppers wait for David Jones Ambassador Jess Gomes to open the Boxing Day sales at 5am at the David Jones Bourke Street store in Melbourne.

Early morning shoppers wait for David Jones Ambassador Jess Gomes to open the Boxing Day sales at 5am at the David Jones Bourke Street store in Melbourne. Source: AAP

Shoppers are already flocking to malls and centres around the country to take advantage of Boxing Day sales.

Australians are tipped to spend more than $2 billion nationally on December 26, lured by heavily discounted products.

In Sydney's CBD, bargain hunters lined up outside David Jones - some overnight - to be among the first through the store's doors when they opened early at 5am.

It's the second year NSW has allowed Boxing Day trading outside the CBD and tourist areas, and state Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian says the government wants this to continue.

"There will be a quick inquiry to see whether it's been successful or not; we're absolutely confident it has been," she told reporters on Monday.

"We can just tell from the support of the community, from the very, very low number of complaints and inquiries we've had, that this will be a permanent fixture."

Brazilian visitor Maria Cristina was among those at Sydney's Pitt St mall early on Saturday to take advantage of the sales.

After scoring bargains on shoes, a hairdryer and a fan, the 36-year-old was heading home, but not for long,

""I just told my friend I'm going to take this home because it's quite heavy, then I will come back," Ms Cristina said.

"I'm especially looking for clothes, they have so many good deals, like 40 to 50 per cent off. Very good prices, very good quality."

The Australian Retailers Association estimates Australians will spend $2.3 billion in 24 hours on Monday, up by almost three per cent on last year's sales.

Shoppers in NSW and Victoria are expected to part with the most cash, $661 million and $518 million respectively, with Queenslanders and Western Australians next.

The hospitality industry is also expected to see a 6.8 per cent rise in sales, an add-on effect from shoppers venturing out.


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Source: AAP


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