Biggest day for online sales

Toowoomba most active for Christmas shopping

YESTERDAY was the busiest online shopping day of the year in Australia.

eBay estimates about five gifts were sold per second and while analysts won’t know full details until later in the week, the Toowoomba postcode was predicted to be the most active in Australia.

Its reinforces Toowoomba’s title as one of the online shopping capitals of Australia.

Statistics from Australia Post, which were revealed in May, showed the 4350 postcode was the second highest area in the country for packages through the mail, only beaten by Point Cook in Victoria.

To coincide with the busy shopping day, eBay has announced a new way for people to find the perfect gift, called Gift Finder.

Shoppers will now be able to use Google Assistant to sort through items to narrow down a gift that suits their friends and families.

Australian Retailers Association executive director Russell Zimmerman said research showed online purchases would jump 3.96% this Christmas, and many would be made this week.

He warned that consumers should check delivery times of any gifts purchased over the internet leading up to December 25, because after a certain date “you can’t guarantee” they’ll arrive in time for Christmas.

According to the ARA and Roy Morgan Research Australian shoppers are expected to spend more than $50 billion over the Christmas period, which started on November 15.

Online shopping grew 8.3% in Australia this year, according to the National Australia Bank, with consumers spending $23.65 billion in internet stores over the year to October.