São Paulo – Electronic commerce grew 27% in the first half this year, compared with the same period in 2008, with revenues of 4.8 billion reals (US$ 2.5 billion). Books and subscriptions to magazines and newspapers continue to lead Internet sales, followed by health and beauty products and medication; computer products; and electric household appliances.
The figures were culled from the 20th issue of the Webshopper report, issued today (18) by e-commerce monitoring company E-bit. According to the company director, Pedro Guasti, the growth rate was expected to be between 20% and 25%.
According to the survey, sales of electric appliances were one of the factors that contributed the most to the result, due to the reduction of the Tax on Industrialised Products (IPI) for the so-called white-line products.
The report highlights that the reduction of the IPI made electric household appliances cheaper by up to 20%. In June, they ranked second in the list of most sold products, and accounted for 13% of total orders.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
