Britons now lead the world in online shopping, with continued growth in retail spending on the Web despite a gloomy outlook on the High Street. As we increasingly use the internet for information, entertainment, shopping, news, and social activity, our expectations become more sophisticated.
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Based on the trends from the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index, which has tracked online spending for the past seven years, a total of £13.16 billion will be spent by British shoppers in the run up to Christmas - an equivalent of £215 for every person in the UK.
This represents a 15 per cent increase in year on year sales but also shows a slowdown in growth when compared to the 54 per cent year on year increase seen in 2007.
Typically, online sales rise steadily from the first week of November and peak during the first week of December, when £24 million worth of alcohol will be bought via the internet.
Forty two per cent of those sales will take place outside of traditional shopping hours, either before 9am or after 6pm.
The peak shopping hour is expected to take place between 1-2pm on Monday 8th December when £28 million will be spent online during this single hour. This is double the amount spent online during the peak hour of 2006, at midday on Monday 11th December.
67% of Brits now think that internet access is more vital than access to a car (54%) or washing machine (58%), writes Netimperative.
78% of Brits have also uploaded digital photos, while 75% have gone online to watch YouTube videos (88% of men against 63% of women).
In general, men prefer content (71% have downloaded music against 62% of women), while women prefer communication (53% use instant messenger against 47% of men).
The channels join BBC Three, BBC Four, CBBC, CBeebies and BBC News, which are already simulcast.
Viewers can tune into the channels online via bbc.co.uk, using a computer or other portable devices. Jana Bennett, director of BBC Vision, said: "The launch of BBC One and BBC Two online completes our commitment to make our portfolio of channels available to watch on the internet.
Simulcasting BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Four, CBBC and Cbeebies is being launched as part of a 12-month evaluation period. Video on the channel sites is restricted so it cannot be viewed from outside the UK.
However, the BBC said anyone in the UK watching or recording TV as it is being simulcast on any device -- including mobiles, laptops and PCs -- must, by law, be covered by a valid TV Licence.
Almost two thirds (64%) said that economic problems would cause them to reduce their spending generally. However, 56% of consumers said their online spending would either not be affected, or that they would actually increase their online purchases.
The report, by E-consultancy in association with immediate future and Logan Tod, shows that the credit crunch, falling house prices and worsening economic conditions will result in online consumers researching purchases more carefully.
