Online shopping increase among rural communities

Online shopping among rural Brits has been on rise in recent times, the latest study by the online payment service PayPal has revealed.

Around 4.4 million people of the countryside, which is 42 % of the rural communities go online to buy various goods. Reasons like improved online delivery services has increased online shopping habits among rural internet users, it was reported.

Factors like unlimited choice of goods on internet shops and the scarcity of nearest shops has also pushed many to shop over the internet, it was found.

Ten percent of the surveyed thought that the nearest shop was really too far while one in six could not find the things they wanted in nearest shops.

Carl Scheible, Managing director of PayPal UK, said:

“The internet has brought the high street to the countryside, and as many rural communities struggle without any shops at all, online shopping will play an increasingly bigger role as a lifeline for many communities.”