Despite the global financial downturn the U.S. Forrester is predicting that online retail sales will reach $370 billion by 2017, up from $231 billion in 2013. The average annual amount that U.S. online buyers spend online was $1,153 in 2007 and reached the amount of $1,549 in 2012. In 2013 we expect further increases of this amount of money, not only in America but also in the other continents.

Nowadays the increasing trend of these amounts is also affected by mobile shopping. Customers increase the use of their mobile devices for various online shopping activities. In 2012, mobile commerce revenue in the U.S. amounted to approximately $10 billion. Currently, more than 37.6 million people in the U.S. are mobile buyers, using their cell phones and tablet in order to shop online.

More people than ever before in history are using the Web to shop for a wide variety of items from clothes to food to houses. But what are the main features that make shoppers to change their habits?

1) Better Prices: Shopping online can usually protect you from wasting money, especially when you couple it with online codes, daily or weekly deals and cash back discounts. Also retailers knows that having an online location has much less fixed overheads (rent, payroll, electricity etc) than a physical store. Many of them pass that savings onto their clients by cutting the price of the goods.

2) Comparison of Prices: Another great thing about online shopping is price comparison sites and with just a few clicks you can quickly check the prices at a big amount of online stores and finally choose the best offer. The shoppers usually has the ability to read not only products reviews but also online store reviews in order to decide which will be the best choice and where to buy.

3) Variety: In recent years, online shopping means that you can not only shop locally but globally also, you can get several brands and products from different sellers. The online shops offer a far greater selection of sizes and colors than you will find on a local store. It is usual the online stores to have a provision for accepting orders without stock and dispatch it across to you when the stock becomes available. All that features boosts online shops to have a wide range of products.

4) No pain: The goods delivered right to your door, so not only you don't have to carry heavy bags and feel you legs and your arms tired but also you don't have to worry about the weather, if it snows or if it rains...

5)Convenience: Online stores are open 7 days a week - 365 days a year. So you can make purchases late at the night, when you are in the bus or a taxi or during a break at work with your cell phone or with a computer. There isn't waiting in line and you can go from one store to another very quickly even if they belonging to different continents. The only you have to do is to ascertain if the online store ships to your country, for example an accessories store, accestories.com, provides free shipping in 150 countries with no minimum order amount. So not only avoid waste of money but also waste of time.

6) Discreet Purchases: Some purchases are better done in privacy. Online stores are also the first choice for discreet purchases like sexy, lingerie and so on. Online Stores enable you to purchase under garments and lingerie without the embarrassment that there are several people watching you and your choices.

Beside all of the benefits listed above, shopping online not only saving gas money and valuable time but also you will became able to reduce your stress levels!