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Madrid.— “Kelkoo's” Centre for Retail Research (CRR) forecast yesterday that the average Christmas spend of 622 euros this year is -0.1 percent down on figures for 2010.

Of this average, 83 euros (13.3 percent) will be spent on Christmas shopping on the internet, said the CRR.
Most of the family budget for the winter holiday season (56.5%) will be spent on buying presents, around 352 euros. Meanwhile, 200 euros will be spent on food and drink (32.2%), 47 euros on travel (7.5%) and 24 euros on Christmas gadgets and decoration (3.8%).

The CRR predict that electronic products such as mobile telephones and portable computers will remain the most popular gifts accounting for 109 euros of the Christmas gift spend, followed by fashion items (103), toys and games (67) and cosmetic products (45).

Europe's big spenders
The CRR reported that Christmas shopping in Spain this year - gifts, and household goods - will reach 31'000 million euros. The country is predicted to spend the fifth highest amount over the holiday season, following on from the United Kingdom where each family will be spending 784 euros, Sweden (648), Germany (630) and Norway (629). At the other end of the scale, it is the Dutch family which spends least at Christmas, 448 euros per household, followed by the French (521) and the Italians (566).

Kelkoo's researchers estimate that shopping on-line around Europe is going to increase by 17.3 percent this year in comparison with 2010 to the value of 39'530 million euros.

Of the 83 euros Spaniards will be spending online, 16.8 percent will go on gifts, 21.4% in Christmas travel, 5.8% on decoration and 6.2% on food and drink.