Slowdown in Australia's online shopping: report

Online retailing in Australia experienced a slowdown in November, with sales contracting 0.2 percent compared to October, and sales now only 3.9 percent higher compared to a year ago, a new report revealed on Tuesday.

The National Australian Bank's Online Retail Sales Index revealed that Australians spent 16.3 billion Australian dollars ( 13.23 billion U.S. dollars) on online retailing in the 12 months to November.

This level is equivalent to 6.8 percent of spending at traditional bricks and mortar retailers as measured by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (excluding cafes, restaurants and takeaway food) in the 12 months to October 2014.

Despite the general slowdown, at a category level in year-on- year terms, electronic games and toys (39.4 percent) maintained its recent momentum, although this segment only accounts for about 3 percent of spending.

Other key growth areas included media (8.7 percent), groceries and liquor (7.4 percent), fashion (6.2 percent), and department and variety stores (4 percent).

One of the largest spending segments, homewares and appliances contracted by 3.1 percent.