According to data just released by Deloitte e-commerce spending is up and is a direct result of the increased price of fuel at the pump.

The Holiday Mood Survey indicates that 33% of shoppers say that higher petrol prices are the reason for shopping on line. We already have seen data (from Pew Research) that shows that the biggest growth in Internet users is +40 year old women. And we know that the baby boomers have a lot more money available to spend than younger demos.

Is it possible that consumerism is so deeply entrenched in our Western culture that we will find a way to consume come hell or high water! And the Internet continues to be the next great frontier for doing so.

On line shopping, according to the research, provides us with a much easier way to comparison shop. The bust may look like it is round the corner, but the corner is in a virtual mall in cyberspace in a galaxy far away....

Small screens aren't a problem to people with good eyes. Would that predominately be kids, teenagers and younger adults? Sure. So why have screens been getting larger in executive offices (ie 19 inches is common now), in home theaters, and on common or garden variety TV's. Well, generally they are slightly older people's purchases. Another example of consumer segmentation unnoticed but driven by age.