The research, by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TSN) Interactive, found that 1.17 million Australians, aged 16 and over, bought or ordered goods or services online in April, compared with 642,000 in April 2000.
The findings, however, show there is still some reluctance to shop online.
"Some 25 percent of global Internet users say they are worried about giving their credit card details or associated security problems," the company said.
The research is part of TNS Interactive's Global e-Commerce Report 2001 based on more than 42,000 interviews in 36 countries.
"Across all those countries surveyed there has been an increase of 50 percent in the proportion of Internet users who have shopped online compared with 12 months ago, showing that growth in Australia is well above the world average".
Key findings include:
- Almost one in five (18 percent) of adult Internet users now shop online
- Australian Internet users rank equal 6th in the world in terms of having shopped online
- Most popular items are books, groceries, holidays
- The proportion of the adult population using the Internet in the last 4 weeks has increased by three percent since last year
- Some 48 percent of the Australian adult population have used the Internet in the last month
- 28 percent say they plan to buy or order goods or services online within the next six months
-These findings confirm that online shopping in Australia is really starting to take off and its potential and benefits are now being recognised by Internet users," said James Fergusson, National Director at TNS Australia.
"However, to take advantage of this growth, companies providing products and services online need to focus on developments which both reassure customers on issues relating to security and aim to provide a more tangible shopping experience than at present," he said.
