Bad weather 'drives people to shop'

Consumers have been encouraged to shop more over the past few days, it has been reported.

Poor weather over recent weeks has seen people spend both more time and money shopping, it has been reported.

As an article in the Sydney Morning Herald points out that consumers' credit card use over the festive period is set to hit the $22 billion barrier, it was suggested that bad conditions have encouraged Australians to hit the shops rather than the beach.

Chief executive of the Australian National Retailers Association Margy Osmond points out: "The fact that it's not beach weather is a big plus."

However, she states that such expenditure was particularly concentrated in the week leading up to Christmas, where retail activity was deemed to be "very, very strong".

Despite such reports of rising retail spend, one financial adviser recently urged caution to those who are considering their Aussie credit and bank account options before splashing out.

Speaking to the Queensland Times earlier this week, Diane Bos, general manager of Lifeline Community Care's Ipswich and West Moreton Division, claimed that her organisation has seen a rise in the number of people struggling with credit cards and other financial commitments in recent weeks.

As such, consumers should attempt to spend "responsibly" over the festive season.

By Mark Hornby