A workman (L) prepares to decorate a 22-metre high Christmas tree in the central Sydney shopping area. One in five Australians will pop a gift voucher or three under their Christmas trees this year, a national survey shows. (Greg Wood/AFP/Getty Images)
One in five Australians will pop a gift voucher or three under the Christmas tree this year, a national survey shows.
The Australian National Retailers' Association (ANRA) and American Express Annual Christmas Survey reveals that's a big increase on last year, when 13 per cent of gifts were in the form of vouchers.
"Clearly, it's fashionable to be practical this Christmas," ANRA CEO Margy Osmond said.
"The humble gift voucher is very popular with the baby boomers - those 55 to 74 years old - with one in three admitting it will be their gift of choice."
Consumer electronics came a close second, followed by toys, clothing, food and wine, CDs, DVDs, books and home wares.
Cosmetics and beauty products run a distant last.
Ms Osmond said while the global financial crisis (GFC) is still causing some jitters, this year's survey reveals two people in three plan to spend the same or more than last year.
"In 2007 - when the economy was performing well and the unemployment rate was at record lows - 17 per cent of people said they expected to spend more than the previous year and 26 per cent said they would spend less," she said.
"In 2008 - as the GFC was emerging and consumers were concerned about rising unemployment - only 12 per cent of people thought they would spend more than the previous year and 46 per cent said they would spend less than 2007.
"This year - as Australia emerges from the GFC - 13 per cent expect to spend more than last year and 34 per cent expect to spend less."
The typical spend will be $100 on partners, $50 on each child and around $20 on friends, but about eight per cent revealed they'll spend $300 or more on their children.
And while one in five people bought a gift for themselves two years ago, this year 37 per cent said they would treat themselves.
