Online consumer shopping is dramatically increasing, and has prompted a three-fold increase in the establishment of online retail outlets. According to the second annual Internet Shopping Study conducted by Ernst & Young, the number of online sellers has increased from 12 per cent (of total online activity) in 1997 to 39 per cent in 1998.

Out of 125 retailers and 1,300 consumers surveyed, just over half of shoppers had purchased good or services online at least five times. This compares with just 17 per cent in 1997. More than a third had spent $300 (€273) or more, an increase from 26 per cent in the last survey. Fear of issuing credit-card information and navigational difficulties online deterred 62 per cent of shoppers from Internet purchasing.