By Brian Hayward

It's a case of shop till you drop in the Eastern and Southern Cape with malls busier than ever and reporting more spending as frenzied shoppers throw caution to the wind – along with their Christmas bonuses.

The frenzy intensified at the weekend as shoppers vied for the best deals and latest gadgets in the Christmas run-up.

Economists say the regional trend is bucking the national tendency of consumers to cut down on shopping this season because of higher interest rates and mounting debt levels.

In Nelson Mandela Bay shoppers are as keen as ever, according to mall managers.

Cleary Park Shopping Centre has reported an 11 per cent increase in customers, while Greenacres has almost surpassed November‘s 1,1-million customer count just three weeks into the month, at close to one million customers, with a further surge expected today.

According to The Bridge marketing manager Sonica van der Meulen, by last week most retailers were already surpassing last year‘s December sales while others said sales were so far on a par with 2006. “Foot traffic usually picks up after people have been paid and have received their bonuses,” she said. “We are expecting a last-minute rush this week.”

Walmer Park property manager Leonie Scheepers said foot traffic was up 10%. “Big stores like Mr Price and Edgars have been extremely busy. Service-related businesses like hairdressers have been run off their feet.”

Along the Garden Route consumer spending is also rife.

“Our visitor numbers are up this month compared with last December. We are definitely busier,” said Knysna Mall manager Laura Ewels.

Nedbank chief economist Dennis Dykes said the region was bucking the national trend of cautious consumers, although the bigger spend could also be attributed to higher volumes of visitors.

He warned the financial hangover for over- spenders would be severe come January. “Consumers are not in as healthy a state as they were a year ago.

“We have been through an exceptional period, but there are now high levels of consumer debt.”

Last week Statistics South Africa published figures showing visitors to the country increased 4,9% in October compared with last year – this was on top of the 5,2% year-on-year growth recorded in September.

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University tourism research unit head Peter Myles said the region was at its busiest ever, thanks to growing international interest in the looming 2010 Soccer World Cup.