Shoppers are spending modestly coming into Christmas, with retailers struggling to reach expectations.
Bushfires have dampened the Christmas spirit, as shoppers slow down their spending these holidays.
Australians were forecast to spend almost $53 billion before Christmas and almost another $19 billion post-Christmas. However, the executive director of the Australian Retailers Association, Russell Zimmerman, said a 2.6 per cent increase on last year is "a fairly low forecast"."I think we'll be struggling to get there," Mr Zimmerman said in Pitt Street Mall on Tuesday.
"Spending money on Christmas just doesn't feel right," said Ms Drysdale, who will be sticking to her budget this year and avoiding the Boxing Day sales. Yvette Carmody was another shopper picking up some last-minute gifts at Pitt Street Mall but she said adult gifts were already sorted: "We are doing Kris Kringle from #buyfromthebush this year."
The social media campaign allowed city consumers to support drought-affected rural communities by buying their Christmas presents from "small bush businesses".
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