Online Christmas shopping patterns across the European countries of France, the UK and Germany varied significantly in the third week of November, according to new research.Whereas the UK saw a significant jump in online retail over the period, France saw less of a rise, while Germany saw a fall.
Cyber shopping in the UK was 23 per cent higher in the third week of November, compared to activity in October.
Meanwhile, internet users in France registered an increase in visits to secure sections of online retail sites of 18 per cent over the period, indicating a slower start to festive buying.
Thanks in part to trade union strikes in the service and transport industries, German activity was found to be ten per cent lower than in October.
The results corroborate a recently released comScore Christmas Shopping Survey, which revealed that 30 per cent of UK consumers intended to begin shopping for gifts within the first two weeks of November.
In contrast, only 19 per cent of French respondents expressed an intention to do likewise and, while 38 per cent of the Germans questioned had planned to start shopping by this time, the delivery uncertainty currently affecting the country may have contributed to the fall in activity.
Results released earlier this week by comScore indicated that, in the US, the first three weeks of November saw an increase of 17 per cent in e-commerce spending, compared to the same period last year.
