New research predicts that on-line shopping is set to grow significantly in the next few years. eMarketer predicts that the rise will be 4% annually, reaching a total of 72% of al internet users by 2014.

In 2010 alone, 26 million people aged 14 and older in the UK – equating to 67.7% of internet users in that age group – will make at least one online purchase per month.

A recent study by the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising revealed that the number of Brits who use the internet at least once a week has reached three-quarters of the population.

A senior analyst for eMarketer is reported as saying: “Online sales growth will continue to outpace growth in overall retail sales in 2010 and 2011, as more shoppers use the web to save time, stretch their pennies and buy items not readily available in nearby physical stores.”

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Women buy less on-line yet spend almost twice as much as men, according to a new survey. Women in North America are the biggest e-retail spenders of all, found the VGMarket study.

The stats look like this:

• The average woman spent £33 on on-line goods compared to £18 for men.
• 75% of respondents had bought goods on-line, and about half planned to spend the same amount again in the next 12 months.

Another interesting section of the report focuses on social networking games, including FarmVille and Mafia Wars. Researchers found that the most popular types of virtual goods purchased with “in-game currencies” were virtual gifts and “wearables”.
It will be interesting to see what happens later this year when Facebook launches a virtual currency, “Facebook Credits”, that will make it even easier for users to purchase virtual, and eventually physical, products.

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A new report has found that Australia’s consumer eCommerce market is lagging behind both the US and UK markets by around three years.

According to eCommerce analysis e-retail consumer spending in Australia in 2010 is expected to add up to 5% of total retail sales. Excluding online services, such as on-line ticketing and events, travel, music downloads and financial services, the forecast is 12 billion Australian dollars for the year.

Meanwhile, e-retail consumer spending as a percentage of total retail spend (domestic only) is above 5% in both the US and UK.

However, analysts estimated that growth in on-line spend in Australia is set to grow by 10.2% over the next four years.

A spokesperson said: “The number of Australian shoppers using international retail sites confirms that there is a large untapped potential for Australian retailers to develop a local on-line customer base. However, we are unlikely to see major growth in this sector until more of the big name retailers get online.

A new e-retail sales index reveals that UK on-line sales were up 20% in June 2010 when compared year-on-year. It’s thought that the warmer weather, as well as the World Cup and Wimbledon, were the major reasons for on-line shopping growth.

In total on-line consumers spent £4.3 million in June, which means that on average every UK shopper spent £72.

It’s the second consecutive month this year that growth has been higher than 20%, according to the  IMRG/Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index.

Earlier this month IMRG/Capgemini released figures showing that over the last decade Brits have spent £246 millionon-line. In 2001, the yearly figure was £1.75million, while in 2010 the figure is expected to exceed £55 million.

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According to a new e-retail index, the past 10 years has seen UK shoppers spending a whopping £250billion on-line. And our shop-aholic tendencies see no sign of abating as it’s predicted that in 2010 alone we’ll spend £56 billion on-line.

The figure from the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index is in stark contrast to a decade ago when 2001 UK e-retail sales were just £1.8 billion. Back then, only around six million Brits shopped online.

The Index has also revealed other trends:

* Peaks in sales of beers, wines and spirits when the English football team play in major tournaments.
* Huge growth in the sales of clothing online.
* On-line shopping sales are predicted to double again in the next 10 years.

IMRG chief executive James Roper is reported as saying: “Britons are passionate about shopping online. The combination of ease, convenience and 24/7 access is incredibly compelling.

“We expect to see that relationship strengthen over the coming decade and by 2020 we predict that the internet will account for half of all retail sales and influence most of the other half.”

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On-line giant Amazon has retained the coveted top “Hitwise Hot Shops” top spot. The latest list, from IMRG, reveals the e-retail market leaders are performing in terms of attracting visitors to their websites.

Amazon’s top placing has remained unchallenged every quarter since the List was first published in May 2006.

In second place is Argos, while Play.com remains in third position.

The fourth place in the Top 100 Hitwise Hot Shops this year goes to Apple Computer, which has moved up from 17^th place last year.

Leading the fastest climbers are ASOS, from 50 to 14, and HP, from 47 to 24. ASDA moved from 49 to 28, while Screwfix is now at 27 after moving up from 46.

With Amazon’s recent entrance to the online grocery market, big players such as Tesco and Sainsburys had better watch thier backs and up thier game!

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