97% Of UK Web Users Have Made A Purchase

More than 85% of the world's online population, including 97% in the UK, has used the internet to make a purchase, according to the latest Nielsen Global Online Survey.

This has resulted in online shopping
seeing a 40% surge in growth over the past two years. Globally, more
than half of web users have made at least one purchase online in the
past month. The highest percentage of online shopping is found in
South Korea where 99% of those with internet access have shopped
online; followed closely by the UK and Germany with 97%, Japan with
97% and the US falling behind in eighth place with 94% of the online
population making a purchase.
Perhaps the most interesting
finding, though, is that 60% of those surveyed said they frequented
the same online stores time after time. "This shows the
importance of capturing the tens of millions of new online shoppers
as they make their first purchases on the internet. If shopping sites
can capture them early, and create a positive shopping experience,
they will likely capture their loyalty and their money," said
Bruce Paul, vice-president of customized research for Nielsen Online.