As the end of the year season is fast approaching, Cofidis has published the second edition of its study "the budget and the good plans of the French for Christmas". Main finding: the average budget of the French for this Christmas is 571 euros with, on average, 8.5 gifts purchased.

One month before Christmas, the race for preparations has already begun. This year, the French plan to spend 571 euros on average to please their loved ones during the holidays. This is what revealed the figures of the survey (*) published by Cofidis on Tuesday, November 20, for the second year in a row. The gifts are the first item of expenditure up to 340 euros, followed by the meal (129 euros) and transport (37 euros).

Gifts is THE priority of the French for Christmas. For you too ? #Cofidis # Christmas2018 @CSAInstitute cc @LaureneFlorin @MadameParle pic.twitter.com/asTD25sNgZ

- Cofidis (@Cofidis) November 20, 2018

This year, the French plan to make more purchases with, on average, 8.5 gifts per person. For young people under 35, the figure is ten.

To meet these expenses, anticipation is required: one third of the French puts money aside throughout the year. Two out of three consumers make their purchases before the beginning of December.

Consumers attracted to online promotions

The month of November is also marked by the promotional offers of Black-Friday. After the French Days flop in October, this online shopping event is more appealing. In order to optimize their budget, 29% of French people buy their gifts in private sale on the Internet.

The percentage of consumers who shop online has also increased four points since last year. Nearly one in five French prefers to surf the web for Christmas shopping.

(*) The study was conducted by CSA Research for Cofidis France, by self-administered questionnaire from 9 to 15 October 2018 from a sample of 1,000 French aged 18 years and over, built according to the quota method on criteria of gender, age, occupation of respondent, region and agglomeration size.