According to the 2009 China Luxury Forecast, about 78 percent of respondents said they would maintain their luxury goods consumption in the next 12 months, while almost 50 percent said they were willing to buy luxury goods online, Chinanews.com reported Thursday.

The survey of 1,100 respondents with an average annual income of over 250,000 yuan ($36,890), jointly issued by public relations firm Ruder Finn and market research company Albatross Global Solutions, showed that consumers in Shanghai and in rapidly developing second-tier cities in East China intend to stay active in their consumption, and 24 percent of the respondents in second-tier cities said they would spend more on world-class brand clothes.

The survey showed that one of the factors drawing people to online purchases was favorable prices over franchised stores. Also, consumers could browse the merchandise anytime. And 70 percent of respondents said the Internet was the best way to learn about the brands.