Houses to be filled with goods 'worth £5.5bn'

Posted : 02-01-2007

Homeowners who hit the shops during the Christmas sale period are being advised to ensure that their home contents insurance adequately covers the value of new purchases.

According to research from Direct Line Home Insurance, bargain hunters are set to spend a total of £5.5 billion on household goods, electronic equipment and clothes in the sales.

Items such as DVD players, MP3 players and digital televisions are on the shopping list for one in three people, while four in ten aim to make a saving on clothes and shoes.

It is estimated that in total, £1.8 billion more than last year will be spent on discounted goods, with shoppers in London spending the most out of anyone else in the country.

The capital is set to see each person spend £179, followed by those in the midlands who are forecast to shell out £126.

However, Direct Line is recommending that people take the time to make sure their possessions are covered by home contents insurance.

"Shoppers may be picking up many bargains this January, but with all the extra possessions in the home this Christmas, it's important that homeowners make sure all of their home contents are fully covered," commented Carmel McCarthy, a spokesperson for the insurer.

Many insurance companies temporarily raise their home contents insurance allowance over the Christmas period to ensure that customers' goods are covered.

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