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CHRISTMAS

Swedes set for ‘record’ holiday shopping spree

Swedish retailers can expect another record-setting Christmas shopping season this year, according to a new report, which finds Swedes are ready to spend despite economic uncertainty in the rest of Europe.

Swedes set for 'record' holiday shopping spree

“A record is the most likely scenario, but there are always reasons to be humble,” Jonas Arnberg, head of retail consulting at Swedish retail industry research institute HUI Research, said in a statement.

According to the annual holiday shopping forecast published on Thursday by HUI Research, Swedes will spend 66 billion kronor ($9.9 billion) in December, a 1.5 percent increase compared with last year.

The group characterized Swedish retail spending as “surprisingly positive” so far this year, with expected declines failing to materialize.

While the institute acknowledged that economic developments outside of Sweden will have an impact on how much Swedes shell out during the Christmas season, low interest rates, higher salaries, and a strong krona have combined to provide Swedes with solid purchasing power heading into the end of the year.

Looking at the year as a whole, spending on sports and recreation is expected to be especially robust for 2012, according to the institute, which is jointly owned by the Swedish Trade Federation (Svensk Handel) and the Swedish Hotel and Restaurant Association (Sveriges Hotell- och Restaurangföretagare, SHR).

However, the predicted 8 percent growth in sports and recreation spending is highly contingent on a snow-filled December, the institute warned.

Book sales, meanwhile, are expected to remain flat for 2012, a result which can nevertheless be seen as an improvement after two years of negative growth.

Swedes are also increasingly inclined to purchase goods online, according to HUI Research, which found that internet sales increased 13 percent in the first six months of 2012, a trend expected to continue through the rest of the year.

The Local/dl

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CHRISTMAS

Thousands more families in Denmark seek Christmas charity

A significant increase in families have sought Christmas help from the Danish Red Cross compared to last winter.

Thousands more families in Denmark seek Christmas charity

Higher process for food, electricity, gas and fuel are being felt by vulnerable families in Denmark, driving more to apply for Christmas packages offered by the Red Cross, broadcaster DR writes.

The NGO said in a statement that more people than ever before have applied for its Christmas help or julehjælp assistance for vulnerable families.

While 15,000 people applied for the charity last year, the number has already reached 20,000 in 2022.

“We are in an extraordinary situation this year where a lot more people have to account for every single krone to make their finances work,” Danish Red Cross general secretary Anders Ladekarl said in the press statement.

“For many more, their finances no longer work, and this is unfortunately reflected by these numbers,” he said.

The Red Cross Christmas assistance consists of a voucher worth 900 kroner redeemable at Coop stores or, in some stores, a hamper consisting of products.

READ ALSO: These are Denmark’s deadlines for sending international mail in time for Christmas

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