Thousands of toy makers, bakers and prawn fishers have been kept busy in recent times as Christmas day draws closer.
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According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there are 1583 toymakers who have been helping Santa prepare for the big day.
And with Christmas lunch rapidly approaching, it’s been a busy time for the 390 prawn fishers, 797 pig farmers and the 2605 poultry farmers.
Those with a sweet tooth will be happy to hear there’s 5721 lolly and chocolate makers in the country as well as 2824 employed to make biscuits.
There’s 13,481 posties working in Australia who have been delivering presents, cards and everything in between.
On average, people spend 23 per cent more in December than in November, based on the ABS Retail Trade data.
Department stores, clothing, footware and ‘other personal accessory’ stores had 60 per cent higher sales in December 2016 than any other month during the year.
People also invest about $27 each year on Christmas decorations. There’s an average of $202 a year just spent on toys and just under $35 spent on batteries alone.
With all the money needed for food, presents and batteries, it may not come as a surprise that Australians work more in December than any other month.
Across the past decade ABS statistics show the average weekly hours worked in December were 34.4, compared to 32.5 for the rest of the year.
Christmas Day has also proved a popular time for travel.
In 2016, there were 47,800 Australians who left for an overseas holiday on Christmas Day. Last year the most popular destinations for short-term travel during December for Australians were New Zealand, the United States and Indonesia.
Santa Claus himself will be dashing across the world and crossing international borders.
At the 2016 Census there were 8528 children between zero and 14-years-old in Dubbo who will be keeping the man in red busy.
There are 1.2 million children in NSW who are under the age of 12. Australia-wide there are more than two million families with children under 12.
Not to forget the true meaning of Christmas, Churches across the Bogan Shire will also see an increase in parishioners during the festive season.
In the Bogan local government area (LGA), 34.9 per cent of people identify as Catholic, another 25.3 per cent are Anglican and 8.6 per cent belong to the Uniting Church.
