The Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG) reckons shoppers will spend £7 billion online in the ten weeks leading up to the big day, Ananova reported.

It also says around £42 billion will be spent online throughout 2007, as fast broadband connections become universal.

Meanwhile, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has produced a Christmas shopping fact file which contains such statistics as:

• £33 billion will be spent this December.
• £11 billion will be spent on Christmas shopping in the two weeks leading up to Christmas.
• The cost of the average Christmas lunch will be £14.

The BRC's director general, Kevin Hawkins, said:

"Christmas is by far the most important time of the year for many retailers and it is also the best indicator of how confident consumers are heading into the New Year."