What have you been spending money on in lockdown? And how - and where - do you intend to spend money in the lead-up to Christmas?
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A consumer survey commissioned by Addicted to Audio found some answers - and not just in the audio field.
Consumer and retail marketing expert Amanda Stevens studied marketing and consumer psychology and ran her own marketing firm for many years.
Ms Stevens said as a result of the pandemic, the report showed "there was a huge switch to online" in retail.
From March 2020 to March 2021, Australian retail spending went up by 9.7 per cent and online domestic retail increased by 57 per cent.
While most figures were national, the survey found in the ACT in 2020, technology was the biggest sector of expenditure, with many people setting up or updating home offices.
Ms Stevens said the survey found nationally, from as early as August 2021 leisure spending was up, with more than 35 per cent of respondents saying this was their biggest expense during 2021 lockdowns.
Leisureware and home gym equipment were popular items, as were headphones and other personal electronics, phones and gaming equipment.
While last year men spent more on tech and women on leisure, Ms Stevens said in 2021 "the figures did a flip" - men spent more on leisure and women's tech spending was up by 217 per cent.
"I guess their priorities were slightly different," she said.
She thought women might have focused more on exercise and other activities until they realised they would be working from home indefinitely. Men might have been more interested in work technology initially but then moved towards leisure items such as Playstations.
Ms Stevens thought there would be an increase in spending at "bricks and mortar" stores in the lead-up to Christmas as people wanted to recapture the experience of shopping in person as well as supporting local businesses.
"Everyone knows local businesses have been doing it tough during the pandemic so rather than going to multinationals, it might be lovely to buy restaurant vouchers," she said.
MORE COVID-19 NEWS:
Other "experiences" such as massages and beauty treatments might also be considered.
As for physical gifts, Ms Stevens said: "Consumers are telling us they will be buying less but seeking out higher-quality goods.
"There's more focus on sustainability."
Spending had also increased on luxury items, Ms Stevens said.
LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton chairman and chief executive officer Bernard Arnault has become one of the richest people in the world after all those sales of champagne, clothing and more, with a net worth of over $200 billion.
If people were planning to buy online for Christmas, Ms Stevens said it would be a good idea to do it sooner rather than later, given the disruptions and delays postal systems had faced.
"This is a unique Christmas," she said.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark canberratimes.com.au
- Download our app
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram