France Could See Online Sales For Retailers Jump 11 Percent This Year

The French E-Commerce Federation announced Thursday (Jan. 26) that online sales for retailers in France may rise as much as 11 percent in 2017 to $85.85 billion.

In a report, the French E-Commerce Federation said that compares to a 14.6 percent jump in 2016. During 2016, French shoppers spent €72 billion making purchases online. The performance for 2016 included the holiday shopping season, which contributed €14 billion. Sales on web-based marketplaces increased 18 percent last year, while mobile sales jumped 30 percent. The report noted that, for the sixth year in a row, the average value of the basket of goods purchased online dropped, largely driven by price competition and lower-cost or free shipping. The value of the basket fell 7 percent to €70. That was offset by an increase in the frequency in which French consumers purchased things online.

Though it has been more than a year since the Nov. 13, 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris, where 130 people were killed and just under 100 were seriously injured, this incident and others like it in France, such as in Nice on Bastille Day, have affected not only tourism but the hearts, minds and wallets of the French people. France stands as number 36 (right behind the U.S.) on the 2015 Global Terrorism Index report, and the French government, along with the Germans, have urged the European Union to come up with new rules for internet messaging services — for instance, to analyze and decipher private texts and other communications to help prevent terrorism.

In 2015, eCommerce accounted for 7 percent of retail sales in France. In fact, online sales in France increased 16 percent in 2015. The most popular retailer? Amazon.