Consumers are likely to spend more on eating out in the week before Christmas than they have in any other week of 2009, but are expected to rein in their spending considerably in the New Year as the reality of continued economic uncertainty and fear of unemployment kicks in, according to new research.

Horizons' QuickBite survey of more than 1,000 consumers showed that between the second and third quarters of 2009, eating out increased by 8.1 per cent but sales were still 4.2 per cent lower than they were during 2009.

Horizons' managing director Peter Backman said: "For restaurant operators, December is a crucial period. Horizons research shows that trading for restaurants, quick service restaurants and pubs through December tends to rise by an average of 22 per cent.

"Sales are likely to pick up next week, but will still be lower than they have been in previous years. We would also anticipate that people will cut back much more in January as VAT rises, credit card bills start arriving, the weather gets colder and strike action from the likes of BA depresses the nation's mood. The more formal sit-down restaurants are likely to suffer most during January and February, although takeaways could see trade rise, as they did during the heavy snowfall of 2009."

Some 75 per cent of consumers, surveyed by Horizons in September 2009, said they had eaten out over the past two weeks, a rise of four per cent since June. On average consumers are eating out 1.58 times a week. Spend per head also showed a slight increase, up from £10.76 per head in June to £10.80 per head in September.

Backman added: "Overall, the market is bottoming out - and next year may see some growth. More likely though, year-on-year figures will bounce along the bottom for most of 2010. However, there is a danger of some growth followed by a further downturn due to growing unemployment, more corporate failures, a hung parliament, and the much-anticipated growth in GDP not arriving, which will dent confidence further.”

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