Retailers are in for a welcome boost this Easter, with Aussies tipped to spend big on food, holidays and DIY projects over the long weekend, according to new research from the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and Roy Morgan.

Despite overall spending staying pretty flat, it seems many of us are still happy to open our wallets for the things that matter – namely time with loved ones, a bit of home improvement, and of course, a few chocolatey treats.

“Australians continue to choose to spend their hard-earned dollars on quality time with their loved ones during special events, travel and projects around the home,” says ARA Chief Industry Affairs Officer Fleur Brown.

DIY takes centre stage at Easter

More than six million Aussies are planning to roll up their sleeves and tackle home projects over the Easter break. All up, we’re expected to spend $6.7 billion on DIY, with the average spend per person coming in at a hefty $1082 – up 27 per cent on last year.

Queenslanders are leading the charge, particularly in the wake of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, with the state likely to see $2.2 billion flow into DIY and homeware purchases. That’s an increase of $400 million compared to last year.

By comparison, NSW is set to spend $1.7 billion, while Victorians will shell out $1.2 billion on home renos and upgrades.

On the move this Easter

Holiday travel is also getting a bump, with 4.55 million people planning a trip – that’s 100,000 more than last Easter. Whether it’s a road trip or a flight overseas, the total travel spend is tipped to hit $11.1 billion.

Interestingly, it’s not just the younger crowd heading off. A million Aussies aged 50–64 and another million aged 65 and up say they’ll be packing their bags this Easter.

“Easter is also a perfect time to take a much-needed break with family and friends, which is what we are seeing Australians do this year,” says Brown.

“Retailers in popular holiday destinations are well-prepared for the Easter school holiday crowds, which will in turn add a further boost to the sector.”

Chocolate still a crowd favourite

No surprises here – Aussies love their chocolate. More than 15 million people are planning to indulge in Easter treats, with total food spending forecast to hit $2.2 billion.

Victoria is leading the way, with an average spend of $173 per person, followed by NSW at $148. Both are well above the national average of $145.

“Aussies consume some of the highest quantities of chocolate in the world – from Easter Eggs to hot-cross buns, many Australians will indulge their sweet tooth in the coming weeks,” Brown says.

And while chocolate may be the star, the Easter period is shaping up as a sweet spot for retailers across the board – especially in food, travel and home improvement.

“After an immensely challenging past year, retailers across food and homeware sectors will be eagerly anticipating this Easter spending uptick as Australians turn their attention to home-maintenance projects,” says Brown.

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