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FedEx is predicting an 18 per cent increase in the volume of packages that move through its EMEA network on its busiest day of the year, 16th December, compared to 2008.
In addition to the usual seasonal spending in stores, consumers are helping to fuel a rise in online sales this holiday, contributing to the surge in the number of packages which move through the FedEx network at this time of year.
With consumers spending more time online, e-commerce will likely drive more holiday activity this season than in the past, making the week starting 14th December the busiest of the year.
Research from online retailer eBay revealed that 85 per cent of consumers across Europe intend to spend as much as they did last year or increase their online spending this year, with four out of ten consumers shopping more online now than in 2008—in part because of a challenging economy preventing pre-holiday upturns in retail stores.
Additional research carried out by the Centre for Retail Research in the UK also revealed that online spending in 2009 is set to reach a total of £8.9 billion this Christmas, representing 20p in every £1 spent, and a 24 per cent increase on previous years.
Adam Psarianos, vice president, operations, FedEx Express Northern Europe, said: “There’s a dynamic happening, as the tough economic environment sees e-commerce fast outpacing more traditional means of retailing. In many ways, we see this trend as the growth opportunity for years to come.”
