Camp-outs, traffic jams and hour long queues were among the scenes in shopping centres today as consumers moved to capitalise on Boxing Day sales, with extended trading in NSW driving optimism for traders after a difficult year.

Popular Victorian centres Chadstone and Highpoint were inundated with customers by mid-day, with five-to-ten minute queues at many checkouts, while in Sydney hundreds were waiting in the early hours of the morning outside Pitt St Mall.

The Australian Retailers Association has tipped total spending at $2.387 billion, slightly down on last year’s $2.388 billion prediction, but executive director Russell Zimmerman said actual trading will likely exceed expectations on the back of extended hours in NSW.

“Reports are from around the country that there was good interest, and most retailers I’ve spoken to say they’ve been fairly comfortable,” Zimmerman said.

Record trading is expected in the nation’s largest retail state, where shoppers are pegged to have spent $766.3 million, compared to $745 million in Victoria.

However, industry analysts have predicted that earlier discounting in November and early December are likely to temper Boxing Day trading this year, as shoppers emerge from shopping holidays like Black Friday and Cyber Monday with higher levels of discount fatigue.

Online retailers are also expected to grab a bigger slice of the Boxing Day pie this year, as new entrants like Amazon jumped into the fray with 40 per cent off fashion and buy one get one free deals on select books, movies, CDs and DVDs.

Catch.com.au also ran a range of deals, with up to 80 per cent off TVs and appliances as well as free shipping on a thousand of its top selling items.

While Amazon topped Myer on a variety of its top picks, including Lego kits ($119 vs $155), the department store sold-out of FITBIT’s charge 2 product at $169.95, around $30 cheaper than Amazon’s price.

Myer also took 50 per cent off Sheridan linen, Tefal appliances as well as Berlei and Maddox apparel.

Competitor David Jones sliced as much as 50 per cent off fashion, shoes and accessories – including brands like Michael Kors, Camilla and Kate Spade.

Wesfarmers’ Target has 50 per cent off Tontine pillows and 20 per cent off Russell Hobbs kitchen appliances – selling a two slice toaster for $47, compared to $76 on Amazon.

Rival chain Big W marked down its range of Russell Hobbs appliances by 50 per cent, as well as matching Target’s Tontine pillow offer.

Turning to appliances, JB Hi-Fi’s week-long sale has kicked off with between $300 and $1200 off a range of TVs in its catalogue, making its Samsung 55-inch QLED Smart TV $697 cheaper than rival Harvey Norman.

In sport, Rebel has knocked 50 per cent off Under Armour and Reebok footwear and 30 per cent off Nike and Adidas clothing, while Athlete’s foot had up to 35 per cent off its range.

Official figures for December trading won’t be available until 6 February, but will need to exceed $25.6 billion to register year-on-year growth.

The figures will cap off what is thus far a disappointing year for spending growth, which is sitting at just 1.82 per cent year-on-year based on data to October.

There is, however, more optimism for January trading with the ARA forecasting solid post-Christmas sales growth of 2.9 per cent to $17.3 billion off the back of Boxing Day.