The value of internet sales by businesses rose to £71.1 billion
in 2004, an increase of 81% on the 2003 figure of £39.3 billion,
according to "experimental statistics" from the Office for National
Statistics (ONS), published on Friday.
Other key findings
- The value of internet sales to households rose to £18.1 billion
in 2004 from £10.8 billion in 2003, a rise of 67.6%.
- 6.7% of businesses sold over the internet in 2004 (5.4% in
2003) while 35.3% made purchases over the internet in 2004 (29.4%
in 2003).
- 32% of businesses with 1,000 or more employees sold over the
internet in 2004 and 70.3% purchased over the internet in
2004.
- Internet purchases by businesses rose 64.6%, from £37.9 billion
in 2003 to £62.4 billion in 2004.
- 33.8% of businesses had a website in 2004, compared to 30.7% of
businesses in 2003. Of businesses with 1,000 or more employees,
98.1% had a website in 2004.
A total of 12,000 firms were questioned in the survey. Financial
firms' trading figures are excluded.
