57% of Irish shoppers make online purchases

More than half of Irish people have shopped online in the past year — just below the European average.

A survey from Eurostat found 57% of Irish internet users bought something online in the last 12 months — 26% bought clothes and shoes online in the last year — compared to 11% in 2008.

About 43% of internet users bought travel and holiday accommodation in 2012 — up from 32% in 2008 — while the percentage of people purchasing books, magazines, and e-learning materials online rose by a third between 2008 and 2012. The percentage of people buying food and groceries online has doubled, from 3% to 6%, in the same period.