Internet is Major Helper of Home Economy in Taiwan

Taipei, Dec. 17, 2010 (CENS)--Taiwan has about 15.42 million computer users and 14.46 million being habitual Internet browsers, 63.9% of which have shipped online, up 10 percentage points from the corresponding 53.9% of last year, according to a recent survey by the Research, Development & Evaluation Commission (RDEC) under the Taiwan Cabinet.

Online shoppers have spent on average this year NT$13,864 (US$447.23) per person, surging 41.24% from last year's NT$9,816 (US$306.75). In addition, 26.4% of the browsers have used online financial services, up five percentage points from that recorded a year earlier. Such uptrend reflects the increasing dependence on the Internet by Taiwanese in home economy, or the art and economics of home management.

The survey shows that 86 of every 100 households in Taiwan own computers, with 81 being online browsers. This year the proportion of mobile online users has increased to 53% from last year's 41.9%; while 75.6% of the island's 12-and-older people have used computers and 70.9% have used the Internet.

Some 64.9% of Taiwan's online users have participated in Internet communities, 48.8% have joined MSN, and 41.4% have participated in Facebook, with 34.9% having set up personal blogs.