Consumers in three major European countries expect to spend only slightly more overall this holiday season, but many of them expect to spend more online, according to a survey by Internet measurement company comScore Inc.
36% of the consumers surveyed in the United Kingdom, Germany and France say they will spend more online this holiday season, while only 14% say they will spend less and 50% about the same. Asked about their overall plans for holiday spending, 20% said they plan to spend more this year than last, 18% less and 62% about the same.
“Online sales appear set to continue growing at a much faster rate than total retail sales and could be the difference between an OK and a great Christmas for some retailers,” says Bob Ivins, comScore executive vice president of international markets. “The popularity of online shopping is set to reach an all-time high this year, as time-squeezed consumers—armed with high-speed access and experience in the online channel—can be expected to spend more time shopping and buying Christmas gifts online.”
British consumers in particular are embracing the web, with 43% saying they plan to spend more online and 13% less. Among the French, 38% plan to spend more online and 12% less, and among Germans 29% expect to spend more and 15% less.
48% of UK respondents said they had started their Christmas shopping, compared with 36% of Germans and 19% of the French.
In terms of online payment methods, some form of debit from a bank account was most preferred in the UK (48%) and Germany (61%), while 76% of the French respondents said they would pay with credit cards. PayPal was the preferred way to pay of 20% of the UK consumers surveyed, compared with 14% in both Germany and France.
The survey was conducted online between Oct. 22 and 28.
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