Consumer Scoreboard confirms that while e-commerce continues to grow, it remains largely domestic despite the clear potential in terms of choice and savings across borders. In addition it also shows that unfair commercial practices persist and knowledge of consumer rights is still worryingly low.

The European Commission published its spring Consumer Scoreboard which highlights that in 2011 for the second year running after the fall in 2009 there were improvements in many EU countries. Nonetheless, it also shows that consumers still cannot shop as easily across borders as they can at home, thereby missing out on greater choice and savings, with potential gains of as much as €204 billion per year. In January 2012, the Commission reported that 70% of consumer credit websites presents suspected irregularities.

Consumers enjoy best conditions in Luxembourg, UK, Denmark, Austria, Ireland, Finland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France and Sweden (Member States above the EU average), according the Consumer Scoreboard. On the other hand, only 12% of respondents EU wide could answer questions about their consumer rights in relation to guarantees, cooling- off periods and what to do if they receive goods they never ordered. Many businesses were not aware of their legal obligations towards consumers. For example, only 27% of retailers knew how long consumers have to return defective products.

The spring edition ('Consumer Conditions Scoreboard') looks at the integration of the retail market and national conditions for consumers and it also includes the Consumer Conditions Index. It informs for example that illegal business practices persist. Since 2010, more EU consumers and retailers have come across advertisements and offers which were misleading and deceptive, or even fraudulent and many more received goods they never ordered.