Online Shopping Takes Over as Consumers Adapt
- UK online sales increased by 103% in May
- Online grocery share of sales reached 13%
- £1.2bn spent on groceries online in the last four weeks
- 7.9 million UK households ordered groceries online
- Spend per visit increased by 45% compared to last year
- Store visits decreased by 24%
UK online grocery sales skyrocketed in May, with a 103% surge compared to the same period last year. Nielsen reports that online shopping now accounts for 13% of all grocery spending in the UK, totaling £1.2bn in sales during the four weeks ended on 16th May. This marks an increase from 7% recorded during the same time last year and a jump from 10% share just four weeks ago. The data also reveals that 7.9 million households placed online grocery orders, up from 4.8 million in the previous year, with 1.1 million new shoppers joining in the past month. Despite a 24% drop in store visits, average spend per visit rose by 45%. Mike Watkins, Nielsen’s UK head of retailer and business insight, attributes this shift to consumers adapting to lockdown life and increased delivery capacity.
Factuality Level: 10
Factuality Justification: The article provides accurate information from a reliable source (Nielsen), presents clear data on online grocery sales growth and store visits, and includes relevant expert commentary.
Noise Level: 3
Noise Justification: The article provides relevant information about the increase in UK online grocery sales during the pandemic and how it has affected consumer behavior. It also includes data from Nielsen to support its claims. However, it could benefit from more analysis or discussion of potential long-term trends or consequences of this shift in shopping habits.
Financial Relevance: Yes
Financial Markets Impacted: UK grocery market
Financial Rating Justification: The article discusses a significant increase in online sales and changes in consumer behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic, which impacts the UK grocery market and can affect companies operating within it.
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: Other
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: Minor
Extreme Rating Justification: There is no extreme event mentioned in the text, but the increase in online sales and changes in shopping habits due to the ongoing pandemic situation.
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