Positive signs for European e-confidence
A survey analysing sales made on the Internet shows that e-confidence, the faith consumers have in buying online, may be growing in Europe. The research, carried out by Internet firm LetsBuyIt.com found that online retail sales have tripled since last year in Europe. It also predicted that, on this basis, online retail sales should grow to 152 billion euro by 2006, - over six per cent of the European retail market. The results were drawn from a survey of 12,000 Europeans in four countries: the UK, Sweden, France and Germany. It found that the UK has the highest level of spending online, with an average of around £200 (325.2 euro) spent in the past 12 months, compared with £125 (203.3 euro) in the other countries. It also found that the profile of the average shopper was a male in the 26-35 age group and that he generally buys from home rather than work.