According to the UK Office of National Statistics (ONS), sales
totalling £56.6 billion were made last year over the internet by UK
business of which financial institutions accounted for over 77%.
However, the findings have been labelled inaccurate by internet
research firm Forrester.
Among other findings in the ONS report based on trading in
2000:
- Businesses in London and the South East each made internet
sales of over £12 billion;
- UK businesses made purchases of £19.6 billion over the
internet;
- Only 600 businesses conducted more than 50% of their activity
over the internet;
- 50% of all UK businesses have a web site;
- 8% of businesses use broadband connections.
According to David Metcalf, a Forrester analyst quoted by ZD Net
news, the real value of business conducted over the internet in
2000 is only around £11 billion; the figure of £56 billion is, in
Metcalf’s opinion, distorted by the inclusion of financial trading
figures. Forrester believes that B2C, non-financial sales accounted
for only £2 billion of the total figure.
