LONDON, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Tesco, Britain's biggest retailer, unveiled a half-price sale on about 1,000 products on Thursday, seeking to lure shoppers amid signs they are holding out for bigger post-Christmas bargains.
The supermarket group said that from Friday it would be halving prices on products from bikes to beef and perfume to Christmas puddings, with a focus on gifts and essentials for the festive season.
"Customers are telling us that they are delaying their main Christmas purchases as they wait for bargains," Commercial Director Richard Brasher said in a statement.
"Our Half Price Sale reassures customers that we're not making them wait."
Tesco said a survey conducted by ICM showed that shoppers were delaying spending, with 73 percent of participants saying they had bought at least one Christmas gift, down from 78 percent the same time a year ago.
Britain's retailers, including clothing and foods group Marks & Spencer and department stores chain Debenhams, have launched big discounts and promotions in the run-up to Christmas in a bid to revive flagging consumer spending.
But research from credit information provider Experian shows that shopper numbers have remained below levels at the same time last year. (Reporting by Mark Potter; Editing by Mike Nesbit)