Australian Bureau of Statistics

SHOPPING ONLINE

Access to the Internet enables people to access or purchase information, goods and services regardless of location. However, concerns about security and privacy do exist.

In 2008-09, 64% of people aged 15 years and over who accessed the Internet used it to make online purchases, an increase from 2006-07 (61%). Younger adults aged 25-34 years were more likely to buy goods and services over the Internet than older people, with three-quarters (75%) doing so compared with less than half (45%) of people aged 65 years and over.

People on lower incomes were less likely to make online purchases. In 2008-09, only 54% of those with an income of less than $40,000 made online purchases, compared to 85% of those with an income of $120,000 or over.

People with higher educational qualifications were more likely to purchase goods and services online. In 2008-09 78% of people with a bachelor degree or above made online purchases, compared to 53% of people whose highest level of educational attainment was year 12.

In 2008-09, the most commonly reported main reason for not making online purchases was a lack of need (40% of people who did not make online purchases), followed by security concerns (18%) and preference for shopping in person (18%). For people aged 15-17 years, the main reason was a lack of a credit card (37%) followed by a lack of need (32%).