People in the East of England have, on average, spent an additional £1,827 each on online shopping in the past year, the latest Lloyds Bank Consumer Digital Index has revealed.
More than a quarter (27%) of people in the East said the Covid-19 pandemic had made them more likely to make purchases without thinking about future implications, with residents making, on average, 28 more online transactions in the past twelve months.
The extra online spending comes as more people turn to the internet for goods and services in lieu of visiting the high street. More than half (51%) of people across the region report to having increased their internet usage, with nine in ten (93%) anticipating that their new habits will continue in the long-term.
But despite the uptake in time spent online, 8% of people in the East are still offline, having not used a desktop, laptop, mobile or tablet in the last three months.
Matt Hubbard, regional ambassador for the East of England at Lloyds Banking Group said: “For a lot of people going online for things like shopping feels easy and convenient, and 86% of people say the internet has helped them to connect better with friends and family in the last year. More than half have admitted they wouldn’t have coped throughout the pandemic without it.
“But some people do not have access – because of a lack of digital skills or poor connectivity, and it is vital we invest in infrastructure and help people improve their skills.
“We’re offering free digital skills training through our Academy and have 20,000 regional digital champions on hand to help people access online services. Through working together, we can make sure everyone feels comfortable using the internet, and help people to unlock the financial and social benefits.”
Despite the rise in online shopping, the pandemic has made many more people in the region careful with their finances overall. More than half (59%) say the experience of the pandemic has changed their priorities and they are now more focused on being debt free.
As internet banking grows *, more than nine in ten (92%) now manage their money online and almost six in ten (57%) feel more in control of their day-to-day finances than they were a year ago.
The research also found that nearly half (47%) of residents in the East of England think the steps they have taken to manage their finances in the last year mean they can now enjoy their lives more. However, many are still feeling the pressure on their household finances, with more than a quarter (29%) saying they feel stressed or overwhelmed by their financial situation.
Matt continued: “We’re continuing to help our customers as much as we can, whether it be with hitting their savings targets or supporting those who are struggling. As part of our commitment to helping Britain recover, we have over 6,500 colleagues trained to help customers build their financial resilience and support those experiencing difficulties as they rebuild their financial health. Our Academy is also actively helping people to become more financially resilient by providing them with the skills they need to be more in control of their money.”
