Online retail sales up 14 per cent

UK ecommerce sales registered an increase of 14 per cent in the 12 months to April, according to the latest IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index.

Tuesday, 19 May 2009

According to the figures, online shoppers' average basket value has risen from £121.69 in April 2008 to £131.76 last month.

The accessories segment of the clothing, footwear and accessories category saw the biggest yearly rise in online sales during April, recording an increase of 59 per cent.

Other industries seeing rapid growth included electricals and the overall clothing, footwear and accessories sector.

Looking at longer term trends, IMRG and Capgemini also revealed that UK consumers have spent £200 billion on web purchases in the last nine years, equivalent to growth of more than 5,000 per cent since 2000.

Mike Petevinos, head of consulting for retail at Capgemini UK, says that the statistics show the recession has not significantly dampened online retail sales.

"It is, however, clear that the online market is maturing, with seasonal fluctuations becoming more noticeable in certain sectors as they are no longer obscured by the 50 per cent plus year on year growth rates of the past," he adds.

Earlier this year, Forrester Research released a forecast predicting that annual UK online spending will reach £56 billion by 2014.

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