The online travel and events sector in particular boomed during the first quarter. In total, the online services accounted for 1.7 billion euros, a doubling compared to the same period last year. Although life has become more expensive, people still like to spend money on experiences, the sector federation concludes.
“After two lost years, there is a lot to catch up on and plenty of trips and events are being organized and booked,” says managing director of BeCommerce Sofie Geeroms. At the same time, consumers are also aware of inflation and rising prices and are buying more price-conscious online in search of essential products.
For example, clothing (40 percent) and shoes (25 percent) remain the products that are most often bought online. Moreover, due to the rising inflation, consumers are not only shopping consciously, but also thinking about the move. “The stores are open again today, but the number of online transactions continues to increase,” said Geeroms.