world downturn

The latest survey on online shopping habits by MasterCard Worldwide revealed that online shoppers shopped more frequently and spent more money shopping online in 4Q 2008 than in the prior year. The company published its latest Insights Report, Economic Crisis and Preference for Online Shopping in Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa which showed that online shoppers across this region spent an average of US$667 online in 4Q 2008 versus US$633 during the same quarter in 2007, and made an average of 3.3 purchases, up from 3.1 in 2007.