Scots spending extra online amid lockdown transition, says index

Scots have, on average, spent an additional £1,623 each on online shopping in the past year, the latest Lloyds Bank Consumer Digital Index has suggested.

Nearly one-third (30%) of those questioned north of the border said the Covid-19 pandemic had made them more likely to make purchases without thinking about future implications, with people making, on average, 30 more online transactions in the past 12 months. Almost two-thirds (63%) of people across Scotland reported having increased their internet usage.

But despite the uptake in time spent online, 5% are still offline, having not used a desktop, laptop, mobile or tablet in the past three months.

Philip Grant, chairman of Lloyds Banking Group’s Scottish executive committee, said: “For a lot of people lockdown has resulted in spending more time and money online.

“For some, this transition has been quite simple and they’ve unlocked some great benefits.

“But for some of those who lack digital skills or access to technology, it’s been extremely challenging. We still have people across Scotland not using the internet at all so it’s vital we help everyone to access online services and do so safely.

“To help, we’re offering free digital skills training through our academy to help people access online services. We also have 20,000 regional digital champions on hand as we work to make sure everyone feels more comfortable using the internet and can reap the benefits both financially and socially.”

Lockdown’s impact on shopping is in the spotlight.