Online shopping 'up 38%' on 2007

Online shopping 'up 38%' on 2007

Shoppers spent 38% more online in the first six months of 2008 than the same period last year, a report said.

Figures show shoppers have spent more than £26.5 billion online so far this year compared with £19.2 billion in the first half of 2007, according to the e-retail sales index.

Internet shopping made up 17p in every £1 of retail spending this year.

The surge in e-commerce showed online sales were resilient to tough high street trading conditions, according to IMRG (Interactive Media in Retail Group) and Capgemini.

Online clothing sales had been particularly strong, the report said.

Shoppers spent a record amount on clothes in March, a month-on-month increase of 21.8% and 31.2% more than in March 2007.

IMRG Capgemini predicted between 30% and 50% of all retail would be online in the next five years.

IMRG CEO James Roper said: "Online shopping growth continues to out-perform the high street, as tight budgets and poor weather keep people at home where they can shop online for bargains.

"Clothing and footwear sales were the biggest losers in physical stores in June, with sales either flat or lower than last year despite heavy and widespread discounting. Online however they were big winners. Internet clothing sales were up 32%, while lingerie sales rose by 37% and footwear 38%."

The IMRG Capgemini Index tracks online sales using data from 60 major e-retailers. Its data includes retail spending such as groceries, clothes, electricals, tickets, travel and digital downloads.