More than a third of UK shoppers plan on increasing their online shopping, despite the cost-of-living crisis

New research from Digital River delves into online spending habits, payment trends, and what consumers now demand from online retailers

Digital River, an experienced global commerce enabler for established and fast-growing brands, has revealed how the cost-of-living crisis has affected UK consumer habits. The new research, conducted by Opinium, explores how UK residents’ finances and general spending have changed over the past six months.

eCommerce remains resilient

When surveyed, over one in six (17%) adults stated that they are struggling financially and more than a third (35%) are just ‘getting by’, yet surprisingly, this was found to have a minimal impact on their willingness to shop online. Only 8% of respondents said that they were looking to shop more in person, with over a fifth (22%) expecting to shop online more frequently in future.

With online retail remaining strong, in-person shopping looks likely to suffer the most with people tightening their budgets. A third (33%) of respondents have shopped online more frequently in the past six months, compared to just 9% that have shopped in-store more often.

Although 58% of UK adults have reduced their spending on non-essential items in the last six months, nearly half (47%) continue to make at least one online transaction a week.

Price comparison and payment flexibility play critical role

A critical factor is the resilience of eCommerce lies in lower prices and an ability to track and compare price changes. Almost three tenths (29%) of UK online shoppers state that it is easier to track prices online than in person, while 29% of those planning to shop online more claim that items being cheaper online is driving them to buy this way.

Additionally, payment methods have evolved to meet demand. Now, 15% of UK adults use buy now-pay later (BNPL) services for online shopping, with over half (59%) doing so to stretch their budget further. Two thirds of BNPL users have used this payment method more in the past six months, with half (49%) saying this is due to their tighter financial situation. Credit card use has remained steady in comparison, with 60% using this method the same amount as usual.

Time for retailers to step up

Although online shopping remains strong, 41% of online shoppers state that online purchases would be among the first things to cut if they needed to reduce their spending. With the cost-of-living crisis set to continue indefinitely, retailers need to be competitive and look for ways to help their consumers.

Half of UK online shoppers (50%) say they want more help from retailers to deal with rising prices. 32% cite delivery pricing as a barrier to online shopping and almost half (48%) state that free or cheaper delivery would offer the most help with the cost of living. Respondents also pointed to more online vouchers (38%) and easier price comparison (31%) as ways for retailers to step up to the plate.

“We’ve seen how inflation has impacted our economy: consumers told us they are decreasing their spending across the board, most notably on special occasions, including holiday shopping and vacations,” said Ted Rogers, Chief Revenue Officer at Digital River.

“However, our research has shown the pace of online spending isn’t expected to slow down despite the squeeze on finances. Brands must ensure they have optimized their digital stores to make the shopping journey as transparent and friction-free as possible, making sure consumers aren’t surprised by any extra costs.”

To learn more about how Digital River can help you meet evolving consumer demands, please visit here.

About Digital River

With more than 25 years’ experience, Digital River has mastered global commerce. An industry disrupter from the start, our Global Seller Services simplify global commerce expansion, enabling companies of all sizes to grow their revenue in 240+ markets worldwide. Global Seller Services combines payments, tax, fraud, compliance and logistics into a single integrated and flexible API based solution helping brands increase conversions, turning browsers into buyers across the world or around the corner. The chosen partner of thousands of brands across the Americas, Europe and Asia. Digital River is global commerce simplified.

Digital River is headquartered in Minneapolis with offices across the U.S., Asia, Europe and South America. For more details, visit DigitalRiver.com.

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