29/11/11
By Karen Moss
New research commissioned by MasterCard Prepaid says extra costs associated with Christmas shopping trips are driving shoppers online. Unplanned purchases like coffee, meals and transport and parking fees mean consumers are less likely to hit the High Street.
MasterCard Prepaid’s Christmas Spending Survey reveals that consumers are shelling out on average an extra £84 per shopping trip, equating to £3.2 billion nationwide. Over half of adults (55 per cent) who go Christmas present-buying splurge on unintended impulse purchases for others, while 45 per cent of Christmas shoppers fall prey to temptation and buy additional items for themselves.
Matt Lanford, Head of Prepaid Europe, said, “With budgets squeezed this Christmas it’s no wonder people are avoiding unnecessary costs by going online to buy presents. But we know that consumers remaining sceptical about online payment security understand and like the benefits of using prepaid for its ability to provide a secure and convenient way of buying goods and services over the internet”.
An estimated £7.75 billion will be spent online in the run up to Christmas this year, and nearly two thirds (63 per cent) of those in the survey said they preferred the convenience of online shopping.
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