Christmas panic is expected to hit the UK earlier this year, as the days for grocery shopping and gift buying slip away.
Brits are most likely to reach ‘peak Christmas panic’ on 20 December – two days earlier than last year – according to analysis from courier service Gophr.
Coined ‘National Day of Christmas Panic’, 20 December will represent the height of Christmas chaos and panic due to several reasons.
These include a lack of availability for Christmas delivery slots for several major supermarkets including Tesco, Waitrose, Ocado and Morrisons. According to Gophr, slots from 20 December ran out as far back as 2 December.
Planned essential engineering works to National Rail services will also raise the nation’s blood pressure. These are set to take place from 21 December, with people frantically trying to get home for Christmas up and down the country on the 20th as a result.
‘Frantic Friday’ – when commuter traffic mixes with the festive getaway on the final Friday before Christmas – is also expected to see chaos on the roads. This year, that Friday falls on 20 December and the RAC has already warned of the traffic hot spots.
Additionally, Gophr is expecting more than a 56% increase in the number of delivery journeys it will make on Friday 20 December (vs daily average), marking the last realistic day for delivery before Christmas day. Those who’ve left it too late will have to brave the shops on Super Saturday (21 December) in order to get those last-minute Christmas gifts in person.
Seb Robert, founder and CEO of Gophr, commented: “Every year, we tell ourselves we won’t leave Christmas preparations to the last minute, but every year, we don’t listen.
“It’s no surprise to see that peak Christmas panic sets in on the final Friday before Christmas, when grocery delivery slots are scarce, travel routes are at their busiest, delivery options are quickly running out, and everyone begins to hit the high street.”
To determine the ‘National Day of Christmas Panic’ for 2024, Gophr’s analysts examined data such as grocery delivery slots from major UK supermarkets, train timetables, historical RAC and AA travel patterns for the festive season, and Gophr’s own delivery records.
Robert concluded: “A broader choice of delivery options can of course mitigate some of this panic, with many consumers looking for faster options to ensure that they get their products in good time, leaving more time for merriment and less time for stressful shopping and travel.”
