Australians spent a record $20.7 billion online in the July to September quarter, driven by increased purchase frequency and major sales events, according to Australia Post’s latest Quarterly eCommerce Report.
Online spending rose 15 per cent year-on-year and 6.2 per cent quarter-on-quarter in Q1 FY26, marking a strong start to the financial year. The number of households shopping online climbed to 8.1 million, up 2.7 per cent from the previous year, while the average basket size held steady at $95.
Online Marketplaces led the category rankings with $4.6 billion in sales, up 10 per cent year-on-year. Food and Liquor followed at $4.2 billion, an increase of 14 per cent, while Fashion generated $2.7 billion, up 13 per cent.
Books, Stationery and Multimedia, Consumer Electronics, and Hobbies and Recreational Goods saw the fastest growth, rising 43 per cent, 21 per cent and 19 per cent respectively, reflecting strong consumer demand for home entertainment and lifestyle products.
Value-driven spending remains a key trend, with three in four shoppers waiting for major sales events. Half of all consumers plan to participate in Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, setting the stage for another high-spending quarter.
New South Wales recorded the highest online spend, followed by Victoria and Queensland. The top online shopping postcodes were Hoppers Crossing (VIC), Toowoomba (QLD), Mackay (QLD), Point Cook (VIC), and Bundaberg (QLD).
Australia Post General Manager Enterprise and Government, Chelsea O’Reilly, said the organisation is preparing for its busiest delivery season on record.
“Australia Post has significantly bolstered operations, hiring thousands of additional team members, investing in our delivery network and infrastructure, and rolling out a new fleet of electric delivery vehicles to get parcels to customers faster than ever,” O’Reilly said.
“With more Australians shopping online and expecting faster deliveries, we now have over 1000 banks of Parcel Lockers across the country, giving customers even more convenient and flexible options for collecting their parcels.”
“The Australia Post app is also the best way for customers to track their parcels in real time, receive in-app notifications and manage deliveries, staying updated every step of the way.”
Australia Post has also released its final sending dates ahead of Christmas. The cutoff for Parcel Post is December 19 for most destinations, while Express Post closes on December 23.
Letters and cards should be sent by December 16 for interstate delivery, with additional time recommended for Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Tasmania, and regional or remote areas.
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