IELTS TASK 1: Compound bar chart (Online business transactions)

The chart below shows the proportion of businesses making e-commerce purchases by industry in Canada between 2015 and 2019. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The compound bar chart compares the proportion of online business transactions in Manufacturing, construction, wholesale, retail, information & communications in Canada from 2015 to 2019.

Overall, there was a gradual increase in the proportion of online business purchases across the board. Information & Communications was the most common purchase and construction the least.

Information & Communications had the highest proportion of online business transactions at 60% in 2015 with a rise to almost 70% in 2019, including a peak at around 73% in 2018. Similarly, Retail increased from 31% in 2015 to around 56% in 2019 with a peak at 58% in 2018. The Wholesale industry had a linear upwards trend, rising from 40% to over 60% in 4 years. The Construction industry followed a similar pattern, increasing by over 30% from 20% to 55% in 2019. The proportion of online business transactions in Manufacturing rose from 31% to 51% in 2015, which declined to 45% in 2017. The figure then rose steadily to almost 60% by the end of 2019.