Unpacked: Our massive Xmas spending splurge

Australia Post delivered more than 100 million parcels in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Photo: TND/Getty
Australians’ Christmas spending habits have continued to climb despite apparent widespread economic hardship.
Australia Post set a record for its busiest peak period in the latest festive season, revealing it delivered almost 103 million parcels in the two months to December 31.
This figure, released on Thursday, marked a 3.1 per cent climb from 2023, according to Aus Post’s latest quarterly online shopping report.
Health and wellness was the crowd favourite for presents, with online purchases up a healthy 20.5 per cent on the previous year.
It was followed closely by athleisure and tools and garden, up 15.8 per cent and 14.6 per cent respectively.
More than 2800 parcels were delivered every minute in November and December across a total of 7.6 million households. The numbers represented a 2.4 per cent increase on 2023.
Northern Territory shoppers led the charge, with purchases up the most at 12.4 per cent. Tasmania’s rose 11.4 per cent, followed by South Australia at 8.9 per cent.
Nationally, the three top suburbs for online shopping were the Queensland towns Mackay and Toowoomba, and Victoria’s Point Cook.
Australia Post parcel, post, and ecommerce services executive general manager Gary Starr said the organisation’s busiest day was on December 9, when more than three million parcels were delivered.
“While we are proud of what we have achieved, we can always do better, and we’ll reflect on this peak to start planning for the next,” he said.
The Australia Post data came along with further insight into Australians’ shopping habits by insurer Budget Direct.
In a survey of almost 1000 people, it found 38 per cent made an online purchase monthly, 30 per cent fortnightly and 21 per cent weekly.
More than half of all respondents – 69 per cent – said they planned to continue or increase their online purchase in the next 12 months.
-AAP