Bendigo Downtown Traders president Ross White said there had been a 10 to 15 per cent drop in sales due to mild weather  and uncertainty surrounding the Federal Budget. 

However shoppers in Hargreaves Mall told the Bendigo Advertiser they had not put their shopping on hold. 

Warrnambool's Candace Ford said she liked shopping and the mild weather would not deter her from buying winter clothing.

"It wouldn't really affect me," she said. 

"I like shopping and would probably still buy a coat I liked."

A shopper in Hargreaves Mall said when she bought clothing, it must have "a purpose".

"I wouldn't buy it for the sake of buying it," the woman said. 

She said she preferred to shop local and asked stores to order products if they did not stock them. 

"I go to Melbourne sometimes," she said. 

"If you do your homework, though, you can get a local store to order something in.

"If you add up all the costs of travelling to Melbourne, it costs more."

Gisborne's Dave Webb said he would not change his shopping habits until he knew how the Federal Budget would affect him.

"If there is any impact on salaries maybe then would I consider spending less," he said. 

"But until then it is not a problem.

"I think a lot of people don't think it is a concern.

"The Budget seems to get a lot of negative press."

Kristy, who did not want her surname published, said the Federal Budget would not stop her from shopping. 

"You don't know when (the aspects of the Budget) will come in," she said.

"It could be a year or 10 years.

"If you have the cash, why not buy it." 

However Mollie Beaumont said she would not spend money on new clothes unless necessary. 

"I don't have enough money to spend on something I don't need," she said.