Rising travel expenses result in Brits spend more than £770 a year getting to the shops - before they have even bought anything.
In the 10 weeks leading up to Christmas, the cost of going shopping is set to increase by 20%, with the average shopper forking out £185 before a single present has been bought. This could see shoppers turning to other channels to make their purchases.

According to new research commissioned by QVC, Brits spend nearly £744m a week just getting to the shops, costing the average adult shopper more than £770 a year on public and private travel expenses.

This looks set to increase further following the Spending Review, which will see railway ticket prices rise by 3% plus retail price inflation.

According to the research, 58% of British adults plan to shun the high street this Christmas in a bid to avoid rising ravel costs and will instead do the majority of their gift shopping online or via TV shopping channels.

QVC marketing director Sue Leeson commented: "The stress, strain and expense involved with shopping on the high street takes the pleasure out of buying the perfect gift... As a result, we have noticed an increasing shift towards online and TV shopping."

The top ten regions in the UK that spend the most getting to and from the shops include Greater London, with customers spending £10.51 per shopping trip, Northern Ireland, where they fork out £10 and the East Midlands, where shoppers can expect to pay £8.61.

The research also found that the average shopper is likely to return at least four purchases throughout the year, which, believe Ms Leeson is as a result of customers buying under pressure and not considering all of their purchases thoroughly.