Australians are gearing up for a big Easter spending spree, according to new research by Finder.

A Finder survey of 1061 respondents revealed almost two in three (61%) Australians – equivalent to 12.7 million people – plan to celebrate Easter.

The average person plans to spend $1185 on chocolate, food, eating out, and travel, totalling $4.4 billion over the festivities.

The research found one in six (16%) respondents plan on travelling over the long weekend, forking out $660 on average for flights and accommodation. This is up 40% from last year.

A quarter (25%) of those surveyed plan to entertain guests. For feasts and fancy decorations, Aussies will loosen their purse strings to the tune of $616 million.

On the other hand, nearly one in three (28%) respondents will dine out, spending $126 per person. This is up 5% from last year.

More than half of the respondents (54%) plan to indulge, spending $644 million on Easter chocolates, while 12% will spend $110 on Easter-themed clothing such as novelty pyjamas.

Finder Editor-at-large Angus Kidman says consumers will be looking for more bang for their buck this Easter.

“Easter is exacerbating cost-of-living pressures, prompting some to rethink how they mark the occasion,” he says.