Second-hand goods 'adding $18bn to economy': report

22/10/2012 - Australians buying and selling second-hand goods have added $18 billion to the economy, a report has found.

Find related suppliers

And the resale value of unwanted and unused goods lying around homes could equate to nearly $44 billion, according to research conducted by classifieds website Gumtree.

In the last year, Australians earned $2874 per person on average by selling second-hand goods, adding a potential six per cent to their average yearly income, the Gumtree report says.

"It's an interesting social movement from people and a reaction to the tougher economic times we find ourselves in," Gumtree spokesman Nat Thomas told reporters on Sunday.

The report estimates there are 23 unused items in each household across the country, while one in five homes have 40 or more items they don't use or want.

Books, clothing and electronics are the most popular items changing hands, Thomas said.

"People are selling everything from property to cars to business services, fashion, anything you no longer have a need for," he said.

Despite the millions of hoarders, more Australians were taking advantage of the second-hand economy, with Gumtree.com reporting that its sales grew 143 per cent over the last year.

Thomas expected the surge in sales to continue, with the second-hand economy up from $13 billion last year to $18 billion this year, or by almost 40 per cent.

Source: AAP

Browse the IndustrySearch directory: Industrial Machinery & Equipment

Have your say...

We welcome thoughtful comments from readers Comment Guidelines The approval of your comment is at the discretion of this article's publisher. Write your comment with the following in mind to ensure the highest likelihood of it being approved: - No promotional undertones - No use of profanity - Good spelling, grammar and layout - Check punctuation, language and missing words - No use of aggression - No unsubstantiated claims We reserve the right to remove comments at our discretion. Your name is used alongside Comments.
Name:
Email: