Online spending in the third quarter of 2022 increased by 12% compared to the same period the year before, E-commerce platform BeCommerce announced on Tuesday. In total, consumers spent €3.6 billion on online purchases in the space of three months, according to data from market research company GfK.
In the first nine months of the year, Belgians spent a total of €10.8 billion online, up 23% from the year before.
While spending on basic necessities is on the rise, the purchase of luxuries, such as toys, clothes and home electronics, has stagnated. Package holidays, flight tickets and accommodation are exceptions to the rule.
“Belgian preferred experiences over luxury goods this third quarter, perhaps this is also a case of ‘catching up’ after the stricter measures of 2020 and 2021 on travel and events,” said Sofie Geeroms, Managing Director of BeCommerce.
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Belgian e-commerce has been steadily growing over the last few years. In the first eight months of 2022, 5,985 new online stores were created. New online stores provide a 13% in sales for stores also owning a physical location.
Around half of Belgian stores are linked to the retail sector, and hospitality second. Flanders has by far the most online stores, and is responsible for 72% of online stores within Belgium.
