Small businesses across the region are set for a boost as households in the North East are expected to spend more on Christmas this year than anywhere else in the UK.
New data from the Small Business Saturday campaign has revealed that 32 per cent of people in the North East plan to increase their festive spending, compared to the national average of 26 per cent.
The region is expected to have the highest spenders in the UK, with 22 per cent of households planning to spend between £1,000 and £2,000, and 21 per cent planning to spend between £5,000 and £10,000.
Small Business Saturday, which encourages people to support independent businesses, found that 35 per cent of households in the North East will spend up to a quarter of their Christmas budget with small businesses this year.
Michelle Ovens CBE, director of Small Business Saturday UK, said: "Public support is absolutely vital for small businesses across the UK, with many still fighting to recover from the cost-of-living crisis and deal with continued challenges like high costs and flat growth.
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"With a major festive spending pot up for grabs this year, there is huge opportunity out there for small businesses.
"And it is really encouraging to see such positive public sentiment across the North East."
The Small Business Saturday campaign, which is backed by American Express, aims to encourage people to support small businesses during the festive season.
Dan Edelman, general manager of UK merchant services at American Express, said: "With the festive period fast approaching, it’s heartening that public support for small businesses remains strong.
"Small Business Saturday is a campaign which remains as important now as when it first began.
"That’s why American Express is proud to champion the nation’s much-loved independent businesses as principal supporter, encouraging the nation to shop small."
To learn more about Small Business Saturday, visit smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com.
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