This article was sourced from the Australian Retailers Association. 

If you need proof that online shopping has skyrocketed, just look at this new data that compares the rate of online shopping with the rate of our population growth. In the last two years, Sydney, Perth, Canberra and Adelaide have seen higher growth in online shopping than the growth of its population.

The findings come from the parcel delivery data by CouriersPlease (CP), which delivered nearly 18 million parcels Australia-wide and internationally in 2018 alone. The data reveals the number of parcel deliveries to online shoppers between April 2017 and March 2019 across five States (NSW, Victoria, Queensland South Australia and Western Australia) and six cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide and Perth).

How the cities compare

The city in which online shopping has outpaced its population most is Sydney. The growth in parcel deliveries to online shoppers in the last two years is 2 times the city’s population growth (10%) growth in deliveries compared with a 4.34% population growth). Perth came in second, with its rate of parcel deliveries growing at almost 2 times the rate of its population (12% growth in parcel deliveries compared with a 6.44% in its population).

Although Brisbane’s population grew by 4.16% over the two years, its rate of shopping deliveries fell by 1% between April 2017 and March 2019. Melbourne residents attracted a 1% growth in online shopping deliveries, but its population grew higher – by 6.94%.

How the States compare

The data also compared parcel deliveries with population growth at a State-wide level. It seems a good proportion of regional West Australian residents are shopping online: WA has seen more growth in online shopping compared with its population than any other State (11 per cent growth in parcel deliveries compared with a 2.29% population growth in 2017 and 2018). NSW came in second, with a 9% growth in parcel deliveries compared with a 2.45% population growth.

Meanwhile, residents in Victoria, Queensland and South Australia seem to have had more restraint on their spending. Shopping has remained stable in Victoria (0% growth), while both Queensland and South Australia have experienced a decline of 4%.

Jessica Ip, CP’s spokesperson, said: “While retail spending in actual stores might have decreased, we’re seeing a rapid increase in the rate of online shopping in multiple States and cities. Online retailers are continuously improving the online and delivery experience for customers, making purchasing goods online a more convenient and attractive option. CP – and an increasing number of retailers – are continuing to innovate in the last-mile delivery area for consumers. For instance, CP’s flexible delivery options such as POPPoints, where shoppers can collect parcels from various news agencies and 24/7 lockers, allows customers to receive deliveries at the time most convenient to them.”

About CouriersPlease

CouriersPlease (CP) is a leading courier and freight service that delivered nearly 18 million parcels in 2018 alone. CP offers a network of POPStation (Pick/Post your Own Parcel) parcel lockers comprising more than 3500 lockers in 45 locations and more than 1000 POPShop retail outlets to enable consumers and businesses to pick up or post their parcels more securely and out of hours. Owned by Singapore Post (SingPost), a leader in eCommerce logistics in the Asia Pacific and USA, CP’s international and domestic air services connect customers to over 220 countries. Visit couriersplease.com.au.