Newcastle Shoppers - Is It Too Early for Christmas?

We're still in August, the schools have barely returned their uniforms to the wardrobe and Christmas Day is more than four months away. Yet for some organised shoppers, thoughts are already turning to presents, festive budgets and getting ahead of the December rush.

As of August 19, there are 128 days until Christmas Day. That might sound far too early to start buying presents, but spreading the cost over several months could make sense for Newcastle and North East families who want to avoid one enormous festive bill.

So, is it genuinely too early to start Christmas shopping, or are August shoppers onto something?

Christmas can come with a sizeable bill.

Last Christmas gives us some idea of just how much money is involved.

PwC forecast that UK consumers would spend around £24.6 billion on presents and celebrations during Christmas 2025, an increase of 3.5 per cent from £23.7 billion the previous year.

That worked out at an estimated £461 for every adult, with 18 to 24-year-olds expected to spend even more at around £541 each.

For someone expecting to spend roughly £460 again this year, beginning now would mean putting aside around £115 a month between September and December. Starting in December would leave almost the entire cost to be covered from one month's income.

That alone could make early Christmas shopping attractive for households trying to manage their budgets.

Newcastle certainly loves Christmas shopping.

Anyone who has attempted to walk down Northumberland Street on a busy December weekend will know how popular Christmas shopping remains in Newcastle.

Eldon Square welcomed 26.4 million visitors during 2025, including an impressive 5.6 million visits during November and December alone. The shopping centre's footfall increased by 5.9 per cent during the final quarter of the year, while total sales across 2025 rose by 4.3 per cent.

Newcastle's Christmas Market has become another major attraction. The 2024 event recorded 1.76 million visits over five weeks, representing a 28 per cent increase compared with 2023. Footfall on Northumberland Street during part of the festive period was also 39 per cent higher than a year earlier.

Those numbers help explain why leaving Newcastle Christmas shopping until December can mean joining some very large crowds.

Starting early could reduce Christmas stress.

Money is not the only argument for beginning early.

Research from Deloitte found that 33 per cent of UK consumers considered Christmas shopping stressful, while 29 per cent found the Christmas period itself stressful.

Buying one or two presents each month could remove some of that last-minute pressure. It also gives shoppers more time to compare prices instead of buying something simply because Christmas Eve is approaching.

There are drawbacks, though. Buying too early can mean missing later discounts, particularly around Black Friday. Children's interests can change quickly, while electronics and other products may become cheaper or be replaced by newer models before December.

Keeping receipts and checking retailers' Christmas returns policies is therefore particularly important for anyone shopping months in advance.

August might be early, but not necessarily too early.

There is something undeniably strange about buying Christmas presents while summer holidays are still taking place across the North East.

But early shopping does not necessarily mean putting the tree up or playing Christmas music in August. For many households, it is simply a budgeting decision.

Someone buying for 12 people could purchase three presents a month between September and December instead of hunting for all 12 during the busiest shopping weeks of the year. Others might start a Christmas savings pot now and wait until autumn before actually buying anything.

There is also an argument for using the extra time to shop locally. Newcastle's Christmas Market has increasingly focused on regional businesses. In 2025, 84 per cent of its traders and suppliers were based within 20 miles of Newcastle, providing shoppers with an alternative to buying every present from major online retailers.

Ultimately, August Christmas shopping will always divide opinion. Some people want nothing festive appearing until December, while others would happily have every present wrapped before Halloween.

With 128 days remaining, however, anyone quietly buying their first Christmas present this week might not be as premature as it initially sounds.

Share your experience.

When do you start Christmas shopping?