VANCOUVER - A new study says more than eight in 10 Canadian Internet users have made an online purchase in the past year with cosmetics, furniture and pet products among popular items.
The Ipsos Reid survey says 82 per cent of Canadians were buying online, with consumers between the ages of 18 and 34 making the most digital purchases.
It says 92 per cent of these younger consumers have purchased online this year, while 82 per cent of those aged 35 to 54 have bought online, and 74 per cent among those 55 years and older.
The survey also found that the average amount of reported spending for online purchases was $954 annually.
When looking at the most common items purchased online, cosmetic and beauty products were up six percentage points to 29 per cent from last year; pet products were up six points to 17 per cent; furniture and housewares were up five points to 23 per cent; groceries were up five points to 15 per cent; and glasses and contact lenses were up four points to 15 per cent.
Despite the popularity of smartphones and tablets, desktops and laptops continue to be used the most for online purchases, with nine in 10 online purchases made with personal computers in the past 12 months.
The online study surveyed 800 adults and was done between July 2-7.
