ParcelHero assert that people are shopping like it’s 2019. The delivery company report that as the impact of Covid diminishes, UK e-commerce sales have fallen to their lowest level since the online boom started in March 2020. Online sales have fallen from 37% of the entire retail market in February 2021 to 25% this June.

ParcelHero state that people’s fears around visiting High Street stores have subsided, our entrenched pre-Covid shopping habits have reasserted themselves. One big example is the collapse of online grocery shopping. Online food sales have fallen by -13% against this time last year. This month’s ChaseDesign Online Shopper Survey found the number of people who claim to “always” use home delivery for groceries has already dropped by half (16% of consumers, down from 31% in 2021).

David Jinks, Head of Consumer Research, ParcelHero, said:

"A falling off in demand for online shopping was always expected, but it’s beginning to look as if the pandemic online bubble has burst. The e-commerce giant Shopify has laid off 1,000 staff. We are going to a staffing level that we would be at if Covid wouldn’t have happened. While Amazon has also admitted to overexpanding, culling 6% of its staff in the latest quarter, which saw a $2bn net loss."