2022 Easter to Bring Sales Boon to Australian Retailers

2022 Easter to Bring Sales Boon to Australian Retailers
People queue on arrival at Sydney Domestic Airport ahead of the Easter long weekend in Sydney, Australia, on April 14, 2022. Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images
Alfred Bui
Updated:

A new survey has predicted that Australians will spend around $7.1 billion (US$5.26 billion) this Easter, providing a much-needed revenue injection for retailers across the country.

According to the joint research by the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and pollster Roy Morgan, 73 percent of Australians are expected to spend $1.5 billion on seafood, hot-cross buns, chocolate, and Easter eggs, with average spending of $100 per person.

Among 2,184 Australians surveyed, one in ten, said they would increase their food spending this year, while around two-thirds (66 percent) said they would spend the same as they did last year.

The survey expects New South Wales residents to spend the most on food at an average of $104 per person, followed by Victorians at $100 per person.

Supermarket chains have rolled out sales for seafood to capitalise on consumer demand this Easter, with rock lobster prices plummeting to $22 each at Coles and Woolworths, nearly half the standard prices in previous years.
Tony Tsiklas refills a prawn display at Claudio's Seafood at the Sydney Fish Market ahead of Easter long weekend celebrations in Sydney, Australia, on April 14, 2022. (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)
Tony Tsiklas refills a prawn display at Claudio's Seafood at the Sydney Fish Market ahead of Easter long weekend celebrations in Sydney, Australia, on April 14, 2022. Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Meanwhile, Paul Zahra, the CEO of ARA, said that this Easter was the first true holiday for many people since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out.

“Even Christmas last year was disrupted by the surge in Omicron cases and testing requirements to cross borders, which forced many people to cancel their plans at the last minute,” he said.

However, as jurisdictions have opened their borders and relaxed pandemic restrictions, retailers in popular holiday destinations struggling with poor sales in prior years are anticipated to receive a substantial boost in revenue in the upcoming days.

Of the survey respondents going away at Easter, nearly two-thirds said they would travel within their own state, while a third would go interstate, and three percent would depart to another country.

Early in the week commencing April 11, chaos erupted in Sydney Airport due to the high number of passengers and staff shortages.

At the same time, major city and regional airports across Australia were also asking travellers to arrive early to check in for flights, with officials at Sydney Airport reminding passengers to be present at the airport at least two hours before their flight time.

Meanwhile, Zahra said that besides food and travel spending, DIYs around the house would also be a popular option for those who are good with their hands.

“It’s the last break many people will have before winter sets in, and people who aren’t going away traditionally use this time to upgrade things around the home that they’ve been putting off for months due to their busy schedules,” he said.

Alfred Bui
Alfred Bui
Author
Alfred Bui is an Australian reporter based in Melbourne and focuses on local and business news. He is a former small business owner and has two master’s degrees in business and business law. Contact him at [email protected].
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