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The value of sales on the Internet rose to £103.3 billion (yes billion) in 2005 - an increase of 56% on 2004 figures, reports the Office of National Statistics. (report PDF).

Other key findings of the survey include:

• The value of Internet sales to households rose to £21.4 billion in 2005 from £16.5 billion in 2004, a rise of 29.7 per cent.
• 14.6 per cent of businesses sold over the Internet in 2005 (12 per cent in 2004) while 56.3 per cent made purchases over the Internet in 2005 (50.3 per cent in 2004).
• Internet purchases by businesses rose 50.4 per cent, from £48.4 billion in 2004 to £72.8 billion in 2005.
• 69.8 per cent of businesses had a website in 2005, compared to 66.9 per cent of businesses in 2004.
• 50.5 per cent of businesses used the Internet to interact with public authorities, such as government departments, local and regional authorities in 2005.