The study conducted by PayPal questioned over 1,000 Irish consumers and revealed that in 2021 the average annual spend increased by 41 per cent on websites based in Ireland, rising to €503 in 2021 from €357 in 2020.
The average spend on websites within Ireland was also more than the average spend on international sites.
Over three quarters (79%) of consumers spent online internationally last year.
The most popular non-Irish destinations to buy from were found to be the UK (74%), Europe outside of the UK (48%) and China (28%).
More than half (56%) of Irish adults say the Covid-19 pandemic has permanently changed the way they pay for products and services, with almost three quarters (73%) preferring cashless transactions.
Speaking about the findings, Maeve Dorman, Senior Vice President at PayPal, said:
“It’s great to see how Irish people are prioritising their online spending on Irish businesses. Regardless of where we buy from though, it’s clear that online shopping has become a critical convenience for Irish people, not only during the pandemic but as part of our regular, busy lives."
