Record parcel deliveries on Monday

australia-postAustralia Post has never delivered as many parcels in one day as it is about to.

More than two-and-a-half million parcels will be delivered through the company’s network on Monday, it says, with that volume unprecedented.

Australia Post Group chief operating officer Bob Black says pre-Christmas online shopping has helped fuel a spike in parcel deliveries since early October.

Online shopping festivals such as Click Frenzy and Black Friday have also played a role, he said.

“Australians are shopping online more than ever, with an unprecedented growth rate of 15 per cent in the first half of 2017,” Black said in a statement.

The big parcel volumes are expected to continue until Christmas.

Black said Australia Post would be offering customers more flexibility with weekend parcel deliveries, and keeping its post offices open longer, until then.

“Our posties are working hard to get everyone’s Christmas presents delivered ahead of the big day,” he said.

Meanwhile new Oxfam research has found that Aussies are tired of going overboard with their Christmas shopping and the majority would consider making environmentally-friendly changes to curb their Christmas habits.

A nation-wide online survey commissioned by Oxfam Australia revealed that almost half of people questioned – 45 per cent – are fed up with giving and receiving unnecessary Christmas gifts, while another 35 per cent dread facing the crowds at shopping centres.

More than 80 per cent of respondents would consider making changes to their usual Christmas habits to help the environment and rein in the silly season’s mass consumption, according to Oxfam.

“I think this research has confirmed what we’ve probably suspected for a while now – Australians are increasingly looking for Christmas ideas that are ethical and meaningful,” said Oxfam Australia’s director of public engagement Pam Anders.

“Christmas is such a beautiful and special time of year and we tend to get so caught up in over-doing it there’s a risk we could forget what’s most important.”

The annual Deloitte Retailers’ Christmas Survey predicted a slump in retailer confidence over the Christmas trading period, despite the projected $50 billion Australian shoppers will spend in retail stores.

“More and more, Australians want to do Christmas a bit more consciously and there are so many fun, creative and smart ways to make that happen,” Anders said.

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