A new report carried out by the Centre for Retail Research and published by retail comparison site Kelkoo says shopping on mobile devices in the UK is set to increase by 53% in the next 12 months, with an estimated £4.5 billion being spent by mobile phone this year. As a result, the UK will be Europe’s biggest mobile shoppers for the third year running, followed by Germany (£2.7 billion) and France (£1.9 billion).
Last year, UK mobile shoppers spent a total of £3 billion using their mobile devices. That’s an average of £192 each; also a European high. Over the last two years, mobile spending in the UK has risen by 584% from the 2010 total of £700 million.
As well as spending more than other countries, the UK’s mobile shoppers also use their phones for a higher proportion of online sales. This year, 7.9% of all online spending in the UK is expected to be transacted via a mobile phone.
Chris Simpson, Chief marketing Officer at Kelkoo, said “Over the last two years, shopping on mobile phones has increased exponentially as a result of simple and secure payment systems, better functionality and increased uptake of ‘always on’ mobile devices such as iPads and tablets. The fact that mobile retailing in the UK has grown by a staggering 584% since 2010 alone highlights how UK consumers are going beyond the PC to find the best online prices wherever they are. At Kelkoo we’ve seen phenomenal growth in mobile shopping comparisons and we’ll be working with our retailers to make the mobile shopping experience as easy as possible from comparison to purchase.”