// John Lewis says consumers are starting to budget in the run-up to Christmas
// There are signs of shoppers changing their habits as a result of cost-of-living pressures
John Lewis Partnership chair Sharon White has warned that consumers are starting to budget and are more conscious of spending ahead of Christmas.
The retailer has seen signs that shoppers are changing their habits as a result of cost-of-living pressures, during a panel debate at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) Annual Conference.
“This is the first Christmas for three years that people get to spend with family, friends and loved ones, and I think people will be really excited to have a proper Christmas,” she said.
Subscribe to Retail Gazette for free
Sign up here to get the latest news straight into your inbox each morning
“But you can see all sorts of things going on with consumer spending.
“We have got some customers who are doing their shopping early and have booked their Waitrose delivery slots in advance.
“On the other hand, you can see other customers starting to budget, and shopping is more phased. People are sticking more with own-brand, value ranges, and buying fewer branded products.
“For us, inflation is hitting the top line. Customers are more thoughtful about what they are spending, and we are very conscious of our employees.
“What we are seeing is that customers are still spending but they are being much more thoughtful and intentional about how they are spending.”
