Number of online shoppers in the U.S. continues to rise

[July 9th 2001]

The proportion of online shoppers in the United States rose by three percent during the past 12 months, according to the findings of a new global study on the Internet and e-commerce, published today by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) Interactive.

Although the U.S. has been experiencing a sluggish economy, the study revealed continued growth of online shopping. U.S. online shoppers outnumber those surveyed, across all 36 countries, by more than two to one: 33 percent compared to the global average of 15 percent. In addition, the findings indicate that 19 percent of the total U.S. adult population bought or ordered goods or services online during the past month.

Online security is the biggest concern keeping Internet users from shopping online. Thirty-seven percent say that they are worried about giving credit card details or associated security problems.

The research is part of TNS Interactive's Global e-Commerce Report 2001 based on more than 42,000 representative interviews in 36 countries. Across all countries surveyed, there has been an increase of 50 percent in the proportion of Internet users who have shopped online, compared to 12 months ago.

Key findings for the U.S. include:

• Fifty-seven percent of the U.S. adult population has used the Internet in the last month, with 58 percent of males, and 54 percent of females doing so, compared with the global adult population average of 31%.

• Twenty-three percent of Internet users say that they plan to buy or order goods or services online within the next six months; an increase of four percent from last year's total (19 percent).

• The most popular items for online shoppers are books and clothes, each with 24 percent of online shoppers purchasing them over the Internet in the last month. Music/compact discs was second at 19 percent.

Links
TNS Intersearch		http://www.intersearch.tnsofres.com