Festive buying fires up in Christchurch

Cash registers have been ringing at Christchurch shopping centres in the lead-up to Christmas.

Consumers packed malls and major retail outlets yesterday to take advantage of the last weekend of pre-Christmas shopping.

Northlands Shopping Centre manager Brian Bell said last-minute spending was a trend this year.

"With Christmas falling later in the week, people have held off," he said. "There wasn't a lot of urgency for the weekend, but they're certainly getting into the swing now."

Christmas retail figures would not be known until the new year, but Northlands was "trading well".

Tough economic conditions were still a factor, Bell believed.

"Locally, the biggest issue for a lot of people has been whether they're still going to have a job at Christmas or not.

"People are just holding back a little on that basis, but now things are picking up. It would be good to see a positive week building up to Christmas Eve."

Westfield Riccarton spokeswoman Deb McGhie said Christmas figures would not be known until January, but she predicted it would be the busiest month of the year.

The centre had exceeded expectations for sales and foot traffic since the redevelopment was completed this year.

"There's no doubt Westfield Riccarton is performing well and this Christmas will be busy." Kiwi ChristmasA13

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