According to research by home delivery firm ParcelHero, UK shoppers spent an average £3,379 each online last year, more than consumers in any other country.
The figures, supported by data from payment machine comparison site Merchant Machine, found that the total spend in online shopping for China was £954.9 billion, the USA £621.6 billion and the UK £174.3 billion.
When taking in to account the size of each countries population Britain’s spent £3,379 with Denmark coming in second at £3,056 and the USA £2,753.
Ian Wright, founder of Merchant Machine said “While the UK is the third-largest online spenders across the globe, the UK’s withdrawal from the EU on the 1st January 2021 will impact the future for online shopping in the UK. The Brexit deal agreed see’s the UK leaving the EU Single Market and Customs Union. As a result of this, it will no longer benefit from the principle of free movement of goods.
“To safeguard the mutually beneficial trading relationship for both the UK and the EU, both sides have agreed upon a free trade area, which entails no tariffs or quotas on products. However, even with the new agreement in place, custom formalities on some imports and exports may mean a significant increase in costs for online shoppers buying from and living in the UK”
David Jinks MILT, ParcelHero’s head of consumer research, said: “The reopening of many stores in April can’t come too soon for High Street retailers. In fact, it may be too late already. UK shoppers now lead the world in the great migration to online.
“Both England and Scotland are set to reopen non-essential stores in April. That will be a huge test for the future of the UK’s High Streets. Will the spring weather lure people back to town centre shops or will newly acquired online shopping habits prove too hard to kick?
“Only stores that embrace their website as their most important shop window and ensure their online service matches the standard of their in-store experience will survive.”
