New data, from global payment platform eWAY, has revealed statistics about Aussies online spending. Australians spent $4.37 billion online between January to March 2015, up 22 per cent from Q1 2014.

Other key statistics from the report include:

• People in Melbourne’s CBD continue to hold the title of Australia’s top online shopping city, receiving 2.59 per cent of all local parcel deliveries, well ahead of Sydney CBD’s 1.85 per cent
• People in Sydney’s CBD are bigger spenders. Sydneysiders average $285 per transaction, compared to Melbourne’s $160.
• Regionally, residents in Toowoomba in Queensland are the top online consumers, while Colac in Victoria and Blacktown in New South Wales jumped up notably from Q1 2014 to make it into the top 20.
• Tuesdays have the highest volume of daily sales for the quarter, while the 6pm – 9pm time slot accounts for 20.5 per cent of all sales.
• Q1 2015 was down only a marginal 6.9 per cent on Q4 2014, the key retail quarter of the year.
• Restaurants experienced 151 per cent growth from the previous corresponding period (PCP).
• International sales volumes (deliveries to international postcodes) increased almost 30 per cent on PCP, and the number of transactions made was also up 25 per cent.

eWAY’s founder and CEO Matt Bullock commented on the findings: “We saw the strongest growth rate in consumers transacting between 6pm to 9pm. With the current debate around state-based reforms to trading hours regulations as recommended in the Harper Report, it sends a clear message about changing consumer appetites for 24hr, or at least extended trading hours.

“Travel, restaurants and dining, and education are all experiencing exponential growth compared to this time last year — which are not your typical online categories – going to show it’s not just consumer electronics and fashion that is doing well online. Anyone considering opening an online store this year would want to do so in categories experiencing high growth.

“eWAY expects to reach record online transaction volumes in 2015, as a result of Aussie businesses realising the potential of omni-channel retailing in Australia.”

For the full Q1 2015 eWAY Online Retail Report, click here.