Commuters contribute £22.8bn to the UK economy per year

Average weekly spend of UK commuter is £89, amounting to 14% of annual online sales.

A major report into commuters’ spending habits, conducted by leading Out-of-Home (OOH) media agency Kinetic and OOH media owner Exterion Media, in partnership with the Centre for Business and Economics Research (Cebr), has revealed that the value of commuter commerce to the UK economy is £22.8 billion per year. In total, this amounts to 14% of annual online spending in the UK.

Spend calculated in this latest report includes both products and services purchased via mobile whilst on the move, ranging from clothing to insurance. Across the UK, the typical weekly spend for commuters amounts to £89, rising to £153 a week for commuters in London. Nearly half (43%) of commuters nationally said they made a purchase whilst commuting at least four times a month. 

In all regions surveyed, clothing was the most popular purchase, with 76% of those surveyed saying they’d purchased clothes in the past year on their commute. This was followed closely by purchases in health and beauty (71%), activities (69%), and grocery shopping (65%).

The research also uncovered that 70% of commuters have made a purchase as a result of advertising seen on their journeys. 

Commuters responded (23% based in London, 18% rest of the UK) that outdoor advertising seen on their commute often reminded them to shop, proving the power of OOH advertising as a significant driving force behind purchases. It also highlights the link between online and offline commerce facilitated by smartphones.

If you are interested to see how OOH advertising can help as part of your marketing plans  contact our team at [email protected] or 02921 320200.

Source: https://www.exterionmedia.com/uk/about-us/latest-news/news/commuters-contribute-to-the-uk-economy