Last minute Christmas rush hits Perth
Impatient drivers seemed to be out in force today as last minute Christmas shoppers caused traffic chaos across Perth.
Road users are reporting people running red lights and failing to indicate in their haste to finish shopping.
Neil Fletcher tweeted: “#Perth, it’s Xmas not demo derby. Slow down and pay attention on the roads. I want to get home in 1 piece!”
Michael Smith followed up with this tweet: “Argh! Wow if there was a #zombie apocalypse today’s traffic would be a good test run”.
In Karrinyup shoppers had to queue before they even got to the checkout with traffic almost at a standstill around the centre.
The decision to go into the city was described as not the wisest idea with the hashtags #Perth #Christmas #chaos used.
Others wished they had the foresight to do more of their Christmas shopping online.
On social media people were lamenting shopping centre carparks, others went as far as suggesting that you do not leave your driveway.
Australians have been spending more than a billion dollars a day in the final shopping rush before Christmas.
Retailers have recorded a pick up in spending on electronics, furniture, homewares and books.
As the big day nears, the focus is now switching from presents to celebrations on the day with more money expected to be spent on food and alcohol today and tomorrow.
Small and large shopping centres have reported excellent trade over the last weekend before Christmas.
Retailers are predicting $29.6 billion in sales over the festive season, a 5.4 per cent rise on last year.
About $3.5 billion is expected to be spent in WA, according to the Australian National Retailers Association.
The ANRA said West Australians were the nation's highest spending last-minute shoppers, and were forecast to have shelled out $168 each over the past two days alone.
