More than half of online shoppers keep purchases secret

BUYING online is almost like having a secret affair, with more than half of buyers keeping their purchases secret from their partners.

A survey carried out by retail intelligence analysts and shopping company Retail Active found over the last six months 58 per cent of buyers deliberately kept their online buys secret.

The company, which surveyed 3,500 people, found 40 per cent of online buyers spent their money on personal indulgences.

Secret buyers tended to go for smaller items, such as lingerie, perfumes or DVDs which easily fit through the letter box without having to be signed for or left with neighbours.