Eurostatistics

Do you like statistics? I assume that few people answer: yes:) Like them or not, statistics, e.g. delivered by Eurobarometer, prove to be interesting and useful. Recently two new Flash Eurobarometer reports were published. They regard consumer (retailers) attitudes towards cross – border trade and consumer protection. Let’s concentrate on what consumers think about distance shopping. - In the past 12 months, 37% of all EU consumers made a distance purchase on the Internet. The rest preferred purchases by mail orders and phone. Don’t you think that it is a bit surprising that so many people used the post/catalogues? - On the other hand, it is not surprising that there are large variations between countries with the overall level of distance shopping: 19% in Bulgaria to 74% (sic!) in Sweden. - And still almost half consumers (48%) said they were more confident when ordering goods or services via the Internet from sellers in their own country. Conclusion: there is still much room for improvement as far as the Internal Market is concerned. The whole text of reports may be found here. Luckily, complicated Eurobarometer analytical reports have “main findings” sections…and that makes them bearable:)