Record spending spree continues
The record breaking spending spree which started before Christmas is continuing into the New Year sales - with business up by about 15% on last year.
However, it is thought that about a quarter of the purchases are being made on credit cards.
The tills that rang in an extra 20% in sales in the run up to Christmas, when the nation went on a £4 billion spending spree, are still ringing.
Despite the fact that the winter sales started when the nation was in the grip of a big freeze, the shopping did not stop.
So far, the New Year sales have clocked up an increase in business of 15%.
The increase in the numbers of people at work is being credited for the spending spree.
Before Christmas, there were some reservations about the amount of purchases being made on credit - that trend has continued with consumers apparently confident about the economy and about one in four purchases are still made with credit cards.
