People in Scotland have spent more than £1,600 extra while shopping online over the past year, according to new statistics from the Lloyds Bank Consumer Digital Index.

On average, Scots have made 30 more online transactions in the past twelve months, and the coronavirus pandemic appears to have fuelled the increase in online shopping activity.

Nearly one-third (30%) of people said the pandemic made them more likely to make purchases without thinking about future implications, the Consumer Digital Index found.

The extra online spending comes as more people turn to the internet for goods and services in lieu of visiting the high street. Just under two-thirds (63%) of people across Scotland reported having increased their internet usage and 94% said they anticipate these habits will continue in the long-term.

However, despite the increase in time spent online, a significant portion of the population is still offline. Around 5% have not used a desktop, laptop, mobile or tablet device in the last three months, the report found.

Philip Grant, Chair of Lloyds Banking Group’s Scottish Executive Committee, said the increase in online activity has been valuable to millions of people across the country, enabling Scots to keep in touch with friends, manage their finances and boost mental wellbeing during a difficult period.

“For a lot of people, lockdown has resulted in spending more time and money online. For some, this transition has been quite simple, and they’ve unlocked some great benefits,” he said.

“A huge 88% say that being online has helped them to keep connected to people they don’t live with, and more than half say they wouldn’t have coped without it.”

Grant warned that for those who lack digital skills or access to technology, the pandemic has proven to be a very difficult and isolating period. To combat this, a stronger focus on digital skills development and community outreach will be needed, and Lloyds is helping to address the issue.

“We’re offering free digital skills training through our Academy to help people access online services. We also have 20,000 regional digital champions on hand as we work to make sure everyone feels more comfortable using the internet and can reap the benefits both financially and socially,” he said.

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Despite the rise in online shopping, the pandemic has made people across Scotland more cautious with their finances. More than half (59%) said the experience of the pandemic has changed their priorities and they are now more focused on addressing issues with debt.

Similarly, in line with the growth of online banking, more than nine-in-ten now manage their money online and almost half (47%) feel more in control of their day-to-day finances compared to a year ago.

Lloyds research also found that 48% of Scottish residents think the steps they have taken to manage their finances in the last year mean they can now enjoy their lives more. However, many are still feeling the pressure on their household income, with almost a quarter (24%) saying they feel stressed or overwhelmed by their financial situation.

“Everyone has a different experience of the pandemic. For some, going out less has meant they’ve saved more, but for others, there has been extreme pressure on their finances,” Grant noted.