Following festive price drops in Nottingham department stores thousands of shoppers are expected to visit the city on Panic Saturday.
In the last week prices have fallen at their fastest rate in 12 years and with it being the last weekend before Christmas people from across the county are rushing to snatch-up festive bargains.
The sale prices at Marks & Spencer, House of Fraser and Debenhams as well as others have been blamed in part by a two per cent drop last month triggered by Black Friday - the retail bargain day imported from the USA.
On the day Nottingham was ranked seventh in the country for internet-based purchases.
City residents made 11,281 purchases, with the trend continuing into Cyber Monday – another retail event for online deals. On that day Nottingham shoppers clicked their way to 7,770 bargains according to figures from Postcode Anywhere, a specialist retail software business.
Stores like Argos and Boots have dropped their prices to attract shoppers and a study by the Centre for Retail Research estimates 13 million consumers across the country will spend £2.1 million for every minute the shops are open averaging of £92.31 per person.
Marks & Spencer is tempting shoppers with a series of 30 per cent off sales on cashmere and coats as well as three for two deals on toys.
Shopper Sarah Kearns from Newark travelled to the city centre early on Saturday to try and avoid the crowds.
The 50-year-old said: "I have finished all my Christmas shopping but I thought I would pop in to see if I could pick up anything extra for my grandchildren.
"It is their birthday at the start of January and I am hoping to pick up something for them.
"Hopefully I will be out of town before the crowds wake up."
It is predicted in-store sales will reach £4.74 billion over the nextfive days, which would be a 21per cent increase on last year.
The research was commissioned by Vouchercodes.co.uk, whose managing director, Claire Davenport, said: "Panic Saturday kicks off a big week for retailers.
"With Christmas Day falling later in the week this year, consumers feel that there is still plenty of time to complete their shopping."
