The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry will conduct a detailed survey of consumption trends for 22 items such as e-books and music sold through the Internet, according to sources.

The survey is set to begin in January next year. It is believed the results of the survey, which should provide a more complete picture of overall consumer spending, may boost the nation’s gross domestic product numbers.

Because of the spread of smartphones, the e-commerce market is rapidly expanding. Firms are also expected to utilize the survey results to get a more accurate picture of the growing market.

The ministry surveys about 8,700 households every month to determine family income and daily spending. It also surveys about 30,000 households a month to determine monthly spending and consumption trends.

In next year’s survey on household Internet spending, target households will be asked about monthly expenditures for each of the 22 items, which include digital contents such as music, e-books, and reservations for accommodations and flight tickets, as well as groceries, clothes and books bought on the Internet.

According to the ministry, few people regard the purchase of smartphone applications and digital contents as consumption, and it estimates total online expenditures will swell to between ¥4 trillion and ¥5 trillion when such consumption is surveyed in detail.