Online shopping popular in north

Postal worker Nikki Rowarth. (Damjan Janevski)233268_01

Michaela Meade

Craigieburn and Doreen have been named in the top 10 suburbs for online shopping in the country.

Australia Post’s 2021 Inside Australian Online Shopping report provided a detailed look at the key insights and trends during 2020.

Craigieburn took the number four spot while Doreen was close behind, named the fifth top suburb for online shopping in Australia for last year.

Doreen was one of the year’s “biggest movers”, moving from 18th up to fifth.

Australia Post parcel and express services general manager Ben Franzi said COVID-19 and subsequent restrictions made online shopping an essential in 2020.

“Australians spent an incredible $50.5 billion online last year, and eCommerce accounted for 16.3 per cent of total retail spend,” Mr Franzi said.

“Almost nine million households across the country bought something online as people shopped for the things they needed, avoiding large shopping centres and other busy retail settings.

“More than 1.3 million of these households were first-time shoppers, with 93 per cent of their initial purchases made between March and December.

“Shoppers are more engaged and comfortable buying online than ever before and this trend has continued into 2021.

“We’re seeing around five million households continue to buy on a monthly basis which is 1.1 million more than the average in 2019.”

Food and liquor, and home and garden products were the leading categories in the survey, up 77 per cent and 70 per cent respectively in year-on-year purchase growth.

Victoria led overall state growth, 82 per cent, attributed to going through the longest lockdowns last year.