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Social shopping

Facebook, Twitter purchases fueling online sales

More consumers are shopping on social media sites, new research finds.

More consumers are turning to Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites to shop, further fueling the booming delivery business.

Global online sales are expected to hit $1.7 trillion this year, an increase of 17 percent from 2014, according to a recent report from Juniper Research.

Direct purchase options on social sites are contributing to the growth.

“Both Facebook and Twitter have launched ‘buy’ buttons in selected markets, which allow users to make purchases directly from the company’s mobile app in a seamless couple-of-clicks transaction,” research author Windsor Holden told the eWeek news site.

Facebook is the leading source of online purchases among social sites. Almost two-thirds of retailers say Facebook generates the most sales for them, according to a new study by ChannelAdvisor, a shopping software provider.

Juniper’s research also found online retailers are focused on getting purchases to consumers faster by offering same-day delivery, helping to drive a dramatic spike in the shipping sector.

The Postal Service’s shipping and package volumes have surged during the past five years, including a 13.4 percent increase during fiscal 2015’s third quarter (April 1-June 30).

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