Half of the amount spent online in the UK is now done so at retailers which have no physical stores, a new analysis from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has shown.

Some 49p out of every pound spent online in 2015 was at a pureplay retailer, up from 41p in 2010. Online shopping at supermarkets accounted for 15p out of every £1 spent, while clothes shops took in 14p, department stores accounted for 9p, household goods stores 5p and retailers selling other products 8p.

However, looking at physical shops that also had an online presence, only 4p out of every £1 spent at food shops was done so online, versus 12p at clothing stores and 11p at department stores.

ONS observed that this trend might be down to delivery and returns. In contrast to many other parcel deliveries, consumers must ensure they are at home to receive an online grocery order. Clothing shops and department stores also often have free and varied returns options.

ONS also noted that “one of the most intriguing trends” over recent years has been the growth of online shopping in November, with pre-Christmas spikes around bumper discount days Black Friday and Cyber Monday. In 2008, 6 per cent of all shopping in November was carried out online, rising to 16 per cent in November 2015.

Overall, online sales in the UK accounted for almost 13 per cent of total retail spend last year, up from 5 per cent in 2008.

Commenting on its findings, ONS said: “Considering that nearly 88 per cent of all shopping in Great Britain in 2015 was done in physical stores, it’s clear that the British public are not ready quite yet to move to an exclusively online shopping experience.

“However, it could be that some shop types will become more online focused than others in the future, as it does seem that there are some items we are more willing to buy online than others.”

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