Online shoppers set to save this Christmas

7 Dec 2004

Forget the high street this Christmas and do your shopping online, today's Mirror reports that Christmas shoppers who buy online could save a total of £6bn, compared with those traipsing round high street stores for presents.

A price comparison survey out today reveals that Internet surfers can save more than £200 on items like digital cameras.

According to UK online centres - a Government initiative aimed at getting more people logged on - a basket of ten top items costs £761.90 in online shops, compared with £1,128.88 on the high street, which accounts for a saving of nearly a third.

Amazingly, more than 16m adults who have never used the web will miss out, reports the paper.Apparently, nearly half of these people claim they have no need to use the Internet.

UK Online Centres, funded by the Department for Education and Skills, has put 6,000 computers in libraries, community centres and schools since 2001.

“Christmas pulls at the purse strings, so it's a real shame so many are unaware of the savings offered by the Internet,” said spokesman Colin Middlemiss.

“Millions of people will undergo needless stress this festive season, unaware they could be sorting out their gift list in seconds at the touch of a button and slashing their Christmas costs.”

Sources: New Media Zero, The Mirror

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