Women are main Web buyers

Women are more likely to buy things over the internet than men, although men spend more when they shop online, research in Britain claimed this week.

Around 22 per cent of women have bought something through the Web, compared with 19 per cent of men, according to the Royal Bank of Scotland. But while women spend an average of £70 sterling (€109) a month, men splash out £111 on online goods.

The survey by Taylor Nelson Sofres showed that overall, 88 per cent spent an average £100 or less a month on internet purchases, while 13 per cent spent more than £100 and 3 per cent spent more than £500.

People aged 25 to 34 were most likely to shop online, with 26 per cent buying goods over the internet, while those over 55 were the least likely to, with just 12 per cent turning to their computer rather than the high street.

CDs and videos were the most popular things to buy online with 38 per cent of people buying them over the internet, followed by books at 30 per cent and travel at 22 per cent.

Nearly one in three women have bought clothes over the internet compared with just 14 per cent of men, while 13 per cent of women have bought groceries or wine through the Web, something just 8 per cent of men have done.

The survey also found 44 per cent claiming to have made an odd purchase over the internet, ranging from a second-hand set of false teeth to 112 onion bhajis. - (PA)