Number of online puchases expected to rise this Christmas

The number of online purchases made by Irish people is expected to rise by 40% this Christmas as consumers go in search of savings on the internet, according to online payments company 3V.

The company however said that the average spend per transaction by Irish online shoppers has fallen to €32 this year from €36, due to a combination of increased value for money online and consumers’ reluctance to overspend.

Single men aged 18-34 are the most active online shoppers, accounting for two-thirds of transactions.

“Given the dramatic shift in the economic environment over the last 18 months, every consumer has been forced to review their own individual spending habits,” said Kieron Guilfoyle, CEO, 3V.

“This significant growth in volume of online sales comes as no surprise to us at 3V as it is the sensible option for Irish consumers who are looking to see their euro go further.”

3V says that 400,000 people are now using its prepaid Visa vouchers to shop online, boosting its customer base here by 45%.