Higher Gas Prices Means More Online Shoppers; eCommerce Rejoices

With the price of gasoline at the pump nearing an average of $4, and with prices expected to soar in the future, shoppers are looking online to make their dog and cat food purchases (or at the very least a gift for Ma on Mothers' Day).  While our European friends and customers are already shelling out about $9 a gallon, for us Americans, spending $4 is enough to feel the sting of a deep puncture wound in the pit of our wallets.  So for the web savvy, online shopping is bound to go up, according to this study by Harris Interactive and iCongo.  About 33% of adults surveyed said that they're more likely to shop online because of higher fuel costs.  And with tax rebates expected to arrive for millions of Americans in the coming weeks, over 40% of shoppers intend to spend it according to recent surveys.

Still, most shoppers will still travel to brick and mortar retail stores to buy their goods, especially for groceries, food, and other necessities.  But for other must-want items, such as digital devices, driving out to the local Circuit City doesn't sound as enticing as getting free shipping from Amazon.com from the discomfort of their wobbly office chair.  And as the cost of living continues to rise, retail sales will likely go down, but eCommerce is likely to pick up this year.