Shopppers were out in force for this year's Boxing Day sales, splurging more than $2 billion on bargains.
The Australian Retailers Association expects the shopping spree to continue well into January, with an estimated $17.2 billion worth of sales expected.
While major shopping malls enjoyed big crowds, online retailers also reported a rise in consumer spending.
"Every year Boxing Day crowds seem to expand, and this year's crowd certainly did not disappoint," ARA executive director Russell Zimmerman said on Tuesday.
"We predicted retailers would trade over $2.3 billion this Boxing Day, and judging by the increase of people in stores, I think we may have hit the mark."
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Shops in NSW attracted the bulk of the spending on Boxing Day, with shop tills ringing up more than $766 million in sales.
Over the next three weeks to January 15, spending on hospitality is expected to enjoy the biggest growth as more people splash their cash at cafes and bars during their summer holidays.
Clothing sales are also expected to rise by three per cent, with food up 2.4 per cent.
HOT ITEMS AT THE POST-CHRISTMAS SALES
* Food, up 2.4pct
* Household goods, up 1.7pct
* Apparel, up 3.0pct
* Department stores, up 0.2pct
* Other, up 3.2pct
* Hospitality, up 6.8pct
(Based on predicted growth for post-Christmas sales between 2015 and 2016)
BOXING DAY SALES ACROSS THE STATES
* NSW $766m
* Victoria $744.9m
* Qld $ 402m
* South Australia $129.5m
* Western Australia $218.6m
* Tasmania $52.8m
* NT $24.3m
* ACT 49.8m
(Source ARA)
