FRANTIC Christmas shoppers will spend $800 million across Australia today in a desperate spending spree to stock up on last-minute presents, food and alcohol.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal today's shopping bonanza is expected to cap a record year of yuletide spending, with Australians forking out $36.5 billion in the six weeks leading up to Christmas.
Figures released by the Australian Retailers Association show that shoppers in NSW alone are expected to spend $296million on last-minute Christmas gifts and food in retail stores today.
And experts yesterday said that leading the last-minute Christmas shopping rush will be men.
The huge spending follows bumper sales at the weekend, with shoppers taking advantage of extended trading hours at department stores and markets across Sydney and the state.
"It'll be a healthy Christmas for retailers, who want their cash registers ringing long and loud," the Australian Retailers Association's executive director Richard Evans said.
Department stores are expecting a huge trading day today, with shoppers splurging on this year's popular items including GPS trackers and PlayStation3 consoles.
David Jones spokesman Paul Zahra said more than one million customers were expected to shop at stores nationwide between Saturday morning and tonight.
Myer stores across Sydney have also recorded big spending from consumers on electronics such as iPods, and strong sales for gift cards and fashion accessories.
The Sydney Fish Market is today expected to record its busiest day of the year, with police on duty to cope with the large crowds.
A spokeswoman said 80,000 people were expected to visit the market during the 36-hour trading period from Saturday morning until this evening, with fishmongers selling more than 800 tonnes of seafood.
The Australian Retailers Association attributed today's anticipated shopping crush to the fact that some 60 per cent of Australians leave their gift purchasing until Christmas Eve.
Consumer behaviour expert Stephen Downes said more men would be in stores today buying last-minute gifts. Dr Downes said while women spent more time buying presents, men spent more money.
"Men are characterised as 'grab and go' in their shopping behaviour," he said
