The Australian Retailers Association warned members Monday to brace for weak Christmas sales based on the performance of the retail sector for the last 18 months.

ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman forecast that year-end spending would be focused on food and household items rather than other types of gifts. He said this situation would likely lead to 1.5 per cent rise in household spending, 3.4 per cent on food and 4.2 per cent on other retail items.

However, he said apparel and footwear sales would likely go down by 1.9 per cent.

In a bid to capture a larger share of the consumer market pie, 54 per cent of retailers plan to mark down prices on items before Christmas since surveys said that 74 per cent of shoppers are seeking low prices instead of better service or convenience.

Riding on the U.S. Black Friday, ARA said Aussie retailers declared Cyber Monday sales to push more products online.

However, Australians have a wider choice of online purchases since they could also access American Web sites such as Amazon.com which is on a one-week sales blitz and offering up to $249 cut on prices.

Bloomingdales also has $50 price off on online orders above $250, Macy's has taken off 50 per cent on dresses and Farfetch offered free shipping to any part of the world.

Other major online bargains include similar free global shipping for orders beyond $100 at Miss Selfridge, for orders above $120 at Topshop/Topman and more than $150 at Urban Outfitters for items with the code FREEFOROZ, and 15 per cent off for items with the code SHOPSTYLE15 at Matches Fashion.

Australian online shoppers, however, had been warned that electronic products from the U.S. often have power plugs not compatible with Australian electric outlets, while gaming consoles and DVDs may not be compatible with Australian technology or Internet service providers.

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