High Gasoline Prices Helping Online Retailers

New York, NY, May 9, 2011 -- High gasoline prices are leading to more online shopping to cut travel expenses, according to Internet Retailer.

According to a survey conducted for Internet Retailer by Synovate, a global market research firm, 28.2% said they are doing more shopping online rather than drive to stores.

More than one-third of consumers living in areas with a population density of 50,000 to 100,000 said they were shopping more online because of higher gas costs.

Fewer shoppers, but still more than a fourth, living in extremely rural areas said they were shopping more online because of higher gas costs. 

April online retail sales were up 19.2% year over year, according to MasterCard Advisors’ SpendingPulse report.