BOXING Day sales spending is due to fall today for the first time in seven years.
It will be eight per cent down on last year — even though 25million shoppers will still spend £4.4billion, the Centre For Retail Research says.
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The first year-on-year December 26 spending fall since 2012 is being blamed on Black Friday discounts.
But today will still be the third-biggest UK shopping day in history.
It will also be more than double Panic Saturday’s £1.7bn before Christmas Day, and almost double Black Friday’s £2.5bn.
Bargain-hunters were expected to have queued for sales from 3am.
Sales start in stores at 6am at Next, 7am at Debenhams and 9am at most retailers.
Security guards were on duty all night for queues, with in-store staff at work as early as 3am.
The Centre’s Professor Joshua Bamfield said much of the cash will be spent online.
He added: “People will check what’s in stores then look for deals online instead.”
Boxing Day shoppers are also likely to be put off by a wave of wet weather that will bring downpours to high street across the UK.
