Australia Post reveals what shoppers are buying online during Covid lockdown, travel restrictions

Aussies are splurging on a range of items as lockdowns and border closures fuel online shopping. See what everyone is buying.

Exclusive: Australians are splashing cash on babies, pets and pampering themselves with items like unisex clothing, as lockdowns and border closures fuel online shopping.

New data obtained from Australia Post has revealed in the last fortnight, almost four million households have bought something online, an increase of six per cent compared to last year.

But contrary to the first national Covid-19 lockdown last year where food and alcohol were high on everyone’s list, fashion and apparel has seen a shopping boom of 14.8 per cent, followed by home and garden items (12 per cent). Food and liquor have seen a 5.9 per cent rise.

Within these categories, baby products have seen a jump of 33.7 per cent in growth, pet products are up by 26.1 per cent, unisex clothing rose by 16.4 per cent and footwear is up by 16.2 per cent.

In NSW, where residents are experiencing a three week lockdown, the top five postcodes doing the most retail therapy growth were Austral, (52.4 per cent), Gregory Hills (52 per cent), Newington (46.3 per cent), Forestville (46.3 per cent) and Mascot (45.6 per cent).

In Queensland the top five postcodes where shoppers had gone online most were in Mooloolah Valley (29.2 per cent), Noosa Heads (27.5 per cent), Noosaville (23 per cent), Cooroy (21.2 per cent) and Surfers Paradise (19.5 per cent).

In Victoria, the top five postcodes for shopaholics who aren’t travelling for school holidays were in Melbourne (44 per cent), Docklands (31.2 per cent), Wollert (28 per cent), Fraser Rise (27 per cent) and Southbank (21.8 per cent.)

Aussies are spending up big on their pets, which many bought during Covid. Picture: Supplied

Australia Post are delivering packages across the nation in record numbers.

In South Australia, eager shoppers were buying up online goods in Strathalbyn (16.3 per cent), Magill (15.4 per cent), Victor Harbor (15.4 per cent), Goolwa (15.1 per cent) and Walkerville (13.3 per cent).

In the Northern Territory, the suburb of Coconut Grove saw the most uptake in online shopping, as did Margaret River in Western Australia, which both grew above the national average of 11 per cent.

Social researcher and Demographer Mark McCrindle said the data showed how much Australians have transformed during the pandemic.

“These are all mortgage belt suburbs with high household numbers where grocery bills are high and there are a few kids in the house and they tend to go through more food and need larger sizes of clothing as they go,” he said.

Klarna employee Ollie Hitchcock in a hoodie, dressed for work. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“People in the past who shopped online used to be from high net worth suburbs, but this data shows people from everywhere are making a practical transition with tech to buy things.

“They are not buying high fashion or upgrading a corporate wardrobe either — they are buying lounge wear and comfortable clothes to work and learn in at home.”

Australia Post General Manager Parcel and Express services Ben Franzi said when restrictions tighten people buy more online.

“With this latest wave of the pandemic affecting different areas of the country, we’ve seen different growth patterns as many Australians experienced tight public health restrictions for the first time,” he said.

“We’ve worked incredibly hard over the last year to increase our capacity, and our posties and drivers are working tirelessly to deliver parcels to our customers every working day, while our Post Offices remain open to provide access to essential services and support communities.”