Almost two thirds of those aged over 50 in the UK do their shopping online, new research has revealed.

Nine in ten over 50s also use the internet regularly to communicate, such as for email and social networking, the Just Retirement survey showed.

Some 85 per cent admitted to using the internet to research their purchases, although less than half are happy to use the web to carry out financial payments such as pensions.

Nigel Barlow, head of research at Just Retirement, explained that there is still a wariness about the internet in certain areas, though this is declining.

He said: "It’s inevitable that the older generation will catch up with younger age groups on online activity.

"However, what is interesting is the extent to which they are prepared to research online."

The PayPal UK Online Retail Report recently revealed that 2.6 million more men than women do their shopping on the internet.

Mums spend an average of 26.7 hours shopping online each month, according to a new study.

Some 4.6 million women aged between 25 and 54 years old with children in the household spent time online in June, the comScore research revealed.

Each mum made an average of 53.1 visits per month to websites, with nearly a third to retail sites selling toys.

Over a quarter (28 per cent) also went online to shop for kids’ entertainment, such as DVD players, LCD TVs, Xbox 360s and Sony PlayStation 3s.

Managing director of comScore Europe Mike Read suggested that this shopping trend could be because mums tend to "control the purse strings for many families".

He said: "It’s clear from their heavy visitation of retail sites that mums represent an important shopping segment."

Research by comScore published in July revealed that eight in ten UK internet users do their shopping or purchase research online.

Web-based auction sites offer people a great opportunity to use the internet to pick up a bargain, it has been asserted.

In an article for online information portal eComparison, sector commentator Jessica Haynes explained that such resources contain a wide range of different products, meaning that people have the chance to buy an array of items.

She also noted that consumers can make purchases for themselves or pick up items for special occasions and other events "with equal ease".

"Auction sites are [...] a good way to shop online. Virtually any product can be purchased in this manner," Ms Haynes said.

Her comments may carry extra weight given the ongoing effects of the global economic downturn on consumers’ wallets.

Figures published by comScore in recent days showed that more than 29 million people over the age of 15 used the internet – either at home or at work – to make purchases during May.

Men in the UK are increasingly becoming online "shopaholics" as they take advantage of the wide array of web-based purchasing platforms, it has been asserted.

Research carried out by Experian on behalf of payment service PayPal, which was founded in 1998, indicates that more than 12.9 million men shop using the internet, in comparison to 10.3 million women.

In addition, the survey found that men spend more money online than their female counterparts, with the average male spending £2,602 over the last six months, compared to £1,930 for the average lady.

The poll also indicates that 41 per cent of male shoppers plan to make as many of their purchases as possible using the internet in the future, compared to 29 per cent of women.

Carl Scheible, managing director of PayPal UK, commented: "The online revolution has turned men into shopaholics. We love the quick and efficient nature of the internet, especially when it comes to buying technology and gadgets."