Shopping on the Internet is becoming more and more commonplace
in China, with over one quarter of Internet users in the country
now shopping online, and with an average expenditure of 563 yuan,
or roughly US$70.
The Shanghai-based Xinmin Evening News quoted statistics from
domestic auction website taobao.com, showing that over 30 million
Internet users have registered on the website and made use of its
facilities.
The website's overall trade volume in 2006 has reached 16.9
billion yuan, more than US$2 billion.
The "hottest" items on the website are mobile phones, cosmetic
products and laptops. Over 40 million cosmetic products and 2.2
million mobile phones have been sold via the website in 2006.
Most of the online shoppers in China are well-educated young
people, born in the late 1970s or early 1980s. The report analyses
that this generation will have even greater influence in the trends
of consumption over the next five to 10 years.
In 2006, the number of Internet users in China reached 123
million.
(CRI January 19, 2007)