Number of pensioners internet shopping more than quadruples in last decade, ONS figures reveal

A boom in silver surfers has seen the number of pensioners internet shopping more than quadruple in the last decade, ONS figures reveal.

While just 16 per cent of those aged 65 and older said they had bought things online in the previous 12 months in 2008, this rose to 65 per cent this year, according to the body's annual survey.

This was the biggest growth in usage among all age groups.

The most common purchases were clothes, shoes and accessories, followed by deliveries from restaurants, fast food chains and catering services.

Older users of the internet have been steadily increasing in the last 12 years, with the proportion of pensioners shopping online rising above 50 per cent for the first time last year.

Retail experts and charities believe the increase is due to previous generations becoming more confident in navigating the web.

They speculate that the decline of the high street is also forcing pensioners who would normally rely on their local stores to instead use online shopping to find the products they need.

The number of empty shops n town centres hit a four-year high last year, according to the British Retail Consortium trade body.

In addition, analysts note that over-65s who don't feel comfortable handing over money on internet sites are taking advantage of the 'click and collect' option - reserving your items online then paying for them when picking them up from the shop in person.

Some 96 per cent of households in Great Britain now have internet access, the ONS survey also revealed. This is an increase from 93 per cent in 2019 and 57 per cent in 2006 when comparable records began.

A total of 80 per cent of households with an adult aged 65 or over now have an internet connection, according to the data.

However, older internet users continue to be less keen to use more advanced aspects of technology.

While almost half (49 per cent) of all 25 to 34 year olds surveyed had used a virtual assistant smart speaker or application, just 17 per cent of those aged 65 or over had.