WORLD CUP-related purchases are expected to boost total consumer spending by an extra 50 per cent to £3 billion during the month of the tournament.

Kevin Hawkins, director of the British Retail Consortium, said yesterday that on top of the £2 billion that is spent each month by consumers, football fans were likely to spend an additional £750 million on items such as beer, spirits, food and audio-visual equipment, as well as £250 million in pubs and clubs. However, the amount spent would depend on the weather and “how long England stays in the World Cup”.

Electrical retailers have already enjoyed a World Cup-induced spike in sales, with flat-screen televisions selling at twice last year’s rate. DSG International, the owner of Dixons and Currys, said that it was selling flat-screen TVs at the rate of one every 15 seconds.

The tournament, which kicks off on June 9, is expected to provide a temporary respite for the embattled high street. Tesco, the supermarkets giant, said that in addition to demand for audio-visual equipment, the company was anticipating a surge in sales of party food, alcohol and soft drinks. Past World Cups have caused sales to rise by up to 10 per cent.

Roger Whiteside, chief executive of Threshers, Britain’s biggest off-licence chain, said that in the event of the “happy coincidence” of the World Cup, sunny weather and England staying in the competition until the end, he was gearing up for a double-digit increase in sales. Scottish & Newcastle has said that it expects to enjoy a 10 per cent increase in beer and cider sales over the month. Punch Taverns, the pubs operator, is gambling on a “double-digit uplift in sales” on England match days, with demand increasing the longer that England stays in the tournament.

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