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Report: Internet shopping reaches mainstream status in Australia

After over a decade of consistent year-on-year growth, Internet shopping finally reached mainstream status in the first quarter of 2013, according to the latest State of the Nation Report from Roy Morgan Research.

The report noted that for the first time, Australians who don’t buy something online in an average three month period are in the minority.

The average Internet shopper spends USD285 online per four week period, with Travel, Entertainment & Leisure, Electronics, Fashion and Food & Beverages the top 5 categories by expenditure.

Australians (aged 14+) spent a total of USD24.3 billion online in the 12 months to March 2013, an increase of 11.9 percent from a year ago. Total retail sales, however, rose only 3.4 percent in the same period to USD258.4 billion, according to ABS data.

“The Internet continues to transform Australians’ shopping habits: more people shop online; they spend more; they buy products across more categories; and they visit stores less often," said Michele Levine, Chief Executive Officer, Roy Morgan Research, in a news release.

However, Levine said despite the significant growth, security and trust are still unresolved issues for online retailing.

"Fifty-six percent of all Australians do not feel comfortable giving their credit card details online, and even among those who have bought online in an average three month period, nearly two thirds say they only buy from retailers they know and one fifth only buy from Australian online retailers," she added.