Britons splashed out almost £42bn on technology in 2012
TECH-SAVVY UK consumers have spent almost £42bn on technology during 2012, an average of £934 per person, as they splashed out on new tablets and smartphones.
But the single biggest outlay for Britons was on television packages, with 17 per cent of consumers spending more than £50 a month, according to research by online price comparison service uSwitch.com. Mobile phone contracts came in second, with the average monthly mobile bill costing £22 in 2012 – or £260 over the whole year.
The report, which surveyed more than 4,000 adults in the UK, also highlighted the increasing popularity of tablets and e-readers among British consumers, with almost one in three (28 per cent) buying a tablet this year, and 18 per cent investing in an e-reader.
Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at uSwitch.com, said the amount of money that Britons are splashing out – despite squeezed finances – proves the tech bug is here to stay.
“2012 has seen Brits’ tech dalliance turn into a full-blown love affair,” he said. “If it’s shiny, new, goes faster and is the latest must-have, they will spend whatever it takes to get their hands on it.”