SHOPPERS in the North are expected to spend almost half as much on their credit cards this Christmas as those in the South.
New research published today by the Morgan Stanley Card Index shows Southern shoppers will put an average of £1,466 on their plastic in the final three months of the year.
By contrast, consumers across the North of England are set to spend just £749, the Index reports.
The Welsh are set to fork out a massive £1,315 each, second only to London at £1,789. The Scots, however, are planning to spend just £514.
For the big-spending Londoners, holidays and travel will be the main items of expenditure at £322, followed closely by food shopping at £319.
People across Yorkshire are set to splash out £1,022, with spending evenly split between food shopping at £192, holidays at £183 and buying presents at £189.
Those living in the North West plan to spend £905 with gifts topping their shopping lists at £151.
Across the South West, people plan to spend an average of £786 with food shopping topping the list at £190.
Of the Scots' £514, presents for other people top the list at £109.
Patrick Muir, the marketing director of Morgan Stanley Credit Cards, said: "The fact that many people in the South put food shopping on their credit cards, suggests that credit cards have become a more integral part of managing the monthly budget in that part of the country, while in the North they are mainly used for occasional purchases, such as presents."
