10% flash the plastic online

Online credit card spending has risen fivefold in the past four years, according to the Association of Payment Clearing Services. One in 10 credit card transactions took place online during the second half of 2003, up from one in 50 in 1999.

The average number of purchases each internet shopper made had almost doubled since 2000, when 6.7 million people made an average of 6.5 purchases each a year. Since then the number of people who shop online has tripled, with an average 11.2 purchases a year.

Sandra Quinn, Apacs director of communications, said: "It's no real surprise ... It's convenient, secure and ideally suits the time-poor society we live in."

Apacs said the most popular items to buy online were books and CDs, followed by travel-related purchases, computer equipment, financial services and groceries.

People also tend to spend more when they buy things online than when they go into a shop; an average of £69 on credit cards and £54 on debit cards, compared with £58 and £39 in stores.

About 72% of internet users shop or bank online, with an estimated 13 million banking over the internet and six million credit card holders checking their statements online.

Men are bigger online shoppers than women, with 35% of the 10.5 million male internet shoppers making 11 or more purchases over the internet during the second half of 2003, compared with 27% of women.