IAB Finds Most Americans, Chinese Engaged in Digital Commerce, With Mobile Gaining

Most Americans and Chinese have purchased a product or service digitally over the past 12 months, while Chinese digital users lead the way on mobile purchases as well, the Interactive Advertising Bureau and IAB China said in a survey Thursday. Eighty-nine percent of Chinese and 84 percent of American digital users engaged in online commerce, a news release said. Chinese users were more bullish on mobile purchases over the past 12 months, with 67 percent engaged vs. 34 percent of American users. IAB said 24 percent of Chinese users make a mobile purchase daily while only 15 percent of U.S. mobile shoppers do. Much higher portions of both groups are interested in buying something through their mobile device over the next month, and IAB said security is an obstacle: "These feelings manifest in different ways depending on the country, with [American] shoppers concerned about information safety and privacy and Chinese shoppers fearing digital fraud and scams." Consulting firm Hypothesis Group conducted the digital survey of 1,000 online adults in the U.S. and China Sept. 19-Oct. 12.