Australians have spent a record $75 billion (US$50.8 billion) in the lead-up to Christmas but the spending frenzy didn’t stop there. 
The Australian Retailers Association also recorded unprecedented growth on Boxing Day with the $1.2 billion (US$0.81 billion) spend equating to 15 percent more than last year.
CEO Paul Zahra said 2022 was the biggest festive season on record. 
“It is unprecedented,” Zahra said.
He said the spend was propped up by Australians wanting to reward themselves after a tough year as well as price drops attracting customers struggling with rising costs.
“It is remarkable that in this period of economic turbulence, traders have well and truly smashed it out of the ballpark as consumers revelled in ‘freedom’ spending,” he said….