An ongoing emphasis on value among Australian shoppers has not stopped online spending growth, according to the latest quarterly e-commerce report from AusPost.<\/p>\n
A total of $21.9 billion was spent in the previous quarter, up 14 per cent on the same period the year before. Within this, $5.1 billion was spent on online marketplaces, accounting for 42 per cent of the entire figure.<\/p>\n
The impact of end-of-financial-year (EOFY) sales was credited for this increase. The decline of the average basket size \u2013 to $90 \u2013 pointed to a decline in discretionary spending.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the strongest trends emerging from the quarter is the continued rise of the \u2018Lipstick Effect\u2019,\u201d Auspost said. \u201cA retail phenomenon where consumers cut back on larger discretionary purchases while continuing to spend on smaller, more affordable indulgences.\u201d<\/p>\n
The report found that almost six in 10 consumers said they \u201cnever\u201d buy at full price anymore; 58 per cent said they enjoy the build-up to a major sale event.<\/p>\n
\u201cAustralian consumers aren\u2019t spending less, but they\u2019re becoming more deliberate with every dollar,\u201d said AusPost\u2019s general manager of e-commerce services, Chelsea O\u2019Reilly. <\/p>\n
\u201cShoppers are thinking more carefully about every purchase. They\u2019re comparing options, chasing value, waiting for the right offer and expecting convenience at every step.\u201d<\/p>\n