According to PayPal data, more Australians are shopping via mobile devices this Christmas season. The data shows that 22% of Australians will make purchases worth $5.6 billion using mobile phones. During the same period in 2010, such purchases were worth $155 million. So far this festive season, about 22% of Australians have already used their mobile devices to make purchases.
In the last month, 30% of the transactions took place between 8pm and midnight. PayPal's Managing Director noted that consumers now have residual "shopping time" that continues after the in-store experience, once they have left the shopping centre, using their mobile phones. He also observed that consumers are shopping in short, mission-focused bursts via mobile devices, working through their Christmas list as they relax at home or commute.
According to the Managing Director, mobile shopping will continue to increase until Christmas is very close. However, last-minute shoppers will turn to physical stores. Earlier research by the organization revealed that people were increasingly using their mobile devices. PayPal's data matches that of the Australian National Retailers Association.