Shops launch sales in bid to rescue Christmas

by Simon Ward on 16 December 2011  |  1 comment
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A host of high street shops are slashing prices as their Christmas is "on a knife edge".

Many retailers have launched sales as Christmas on the high street is balanced “on a knife edge”, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC).

As this is the last shopping weekend before Christmas, retailers are hoping to tempt us to splash out with discounts and offers.

Here are the shops with sales on now:

Boots: Up to 50% off selected fragrances and beauty products

Gap: Up to 60% off

French Connection: Up to 60% off

Debenhams: Half-price Christmas bargains and 10% off beauty and fragrance products

Superdrug: Better than half price on selected hair products and fragrances

Coast: Up to 50% off

Warehouse: Up to 50% off

House of Fraser: Up to 50% off (40% on menswear)

Oasis: Up to 50% off.

Monsoon: Up to 50% off

Jaeger: Up to 50% off

Laura Ashley: Up to 50% off home and fashion

Whistles: Half-price sale

Evans: Up to 50% off

Karen Millen: Up to 50% off shoes and accessories

New Look: Up to 50% off partywear

Wallis: Many shoes and boots now half price

Radley: Up to 50% off

B&Q: sale

John Lewis has pledged to price match any sale item bought elsewhere this weekend.

The Centre for Retail Research is forecasting shoppers will spend an average of £128 this Saturday. Meanwhile, Visa says it expects Friday 23 December will be the busiest shopping day of the festive period as we buy last-minute presents.

High street shops have been hit by a combination of the tough economic conditions and the rise in popularity of online shopping.

If you want to see who's offering bargains online, take a look at this week's Frugal Friday blog.

And if you are buying online, make sure you check the last delivery dates.

More: Budget Christmas gifts for everyone | 12 good, cheap Christmas gift ideas