Festive facts and figures from the ABS (Media Release)

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MEDIA RELEASE
December 21, 2007
140/2007
Festive facts and figures from the ABS

Australia's official statisticians have estimated that Santa Claus will be visiting 5.2 million Australian families, 3.2 million of which have children under 15 years of age.

Most children reside in New South Wales (1.3 million), Victoria (950,400) and Queensland (806,500).

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has tracked that in preparation for Christmas, over $10 million worth of Christmas tree lighting and more than $56 million worth of other Christmas-related articles have been imported this year (up until October).

More than 27 million stuffed toys have been imported (worth more than $49 million) in the same period, as well as over 12 million dolls (worth $46 million).

With this in mind it is not surprising that shopping peaks in December. Last December Australians spent $18,688.7 million at retailers (up from $17,495.6 million in December 2005).

Most spending last December occurred in food retailing ($7,593.4 million), hospitality and service industries retailing ($3,043.8 million) and household goods stores retailing ($2,911.0 million). The quietest time in retailing last year was January, where $17,605.5 million was spent.

More Australian residents travel overseas on Christmas Day to "visit family and friends" (7,712 people last year) than those who travel to Australia for the same reason (5,235 short term visitors arrived in Australia on Christmas Day last year).

There were 12,052 Australian residents who left the country on Christmas Day for "holidays overseas", while 11,726 short-term visitors arrived in Australia on Christmas Day last year for holidays.

While ABS statistics don't record reindeers, the ABS can report that there were 59,469 farmed deer in Australia on June 30, 2005.