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

Source: www.imrg.org