Pensioners are turning away from the high street and shopping online instead, with almost half of those aged over 65 now buying goods from the internet.
Though they remain the least likely demographic to buy online, the proportion of older people buying items via the internet has trebled over the past decade, from 16 per cent to 48, data from the Office of National Statistics revealed.
The increased buying online from the over 65 age group has led to them being dubbed “silver surfers”.
Three shops close every day on Britain’s high streets as online competition and soaring business rates take a toll on independent retailers.
“Silver surfers” represented the age group with the biggest increase in internet shoppers over the past 10 years. Findings signal further woes for the British high street (stock image)
Pensioners represented the age group with the biggest increase in internet shoppers over the past 10 years.
The most popular online purchases in 2018 so far were clothes or sporting goods, which were bought by 55 per cent of adults.
Household goods, including toys, white goods and furniture, were the next most popular products, bought by 48 per cent.
And 42 per cent of adults bought holiday accommodation online.
Retail analyst at Mintel, Nick Carroll, said shopping online made sense for older customers, particularly buying white goods or other bulky items.
‘Online shopping may have been a young person’s game in the past, but now it’s mainstream among older generations,’ he told the Daily Telegraph.
‘There is a lot less fear of problems like security, and it makes sense for older shoppers because of the delivery aspect.
‘There has been an obvious impact on the high street from online shopping as people realise it’s more convenient to shop from home. Convenience is really what’s at the heart of it.’
A total of 78 per cent of adults bought goods or services via the internet in the last year, according to the figures.
This is up 25 percentage points since 2008 and one percentage point since 2017.
Those aged 16 to 24 were most likely to shop online once or twice, whereas people aged between 25 and 54 were most likely to shop online more than 10 times in the same period.