High street blues fail to hit online sales

Fifty-five per cent increase in third consecutive year of growth

Shoppers have turned from the high street to online

Online sales have soared to their highest sustained levels in four years, up 55 per cent on last year, in sharp contrast to the recent fall in high street sales.

Overall retail sales climbed just 0.2 per cent in June, which analysts blamed on recent wet weather. But online sales for the same month topped £3.5bn, more than the annual takings of London’s West End.

Online retailing body IMRG says year-on-year the figures have been growing steadily since 2004, when sales dropped after record sustained growth in 2003. Sales were up 30.8 per cent in 2005, 35.3 per cent in 2006 and 52.5 per cent this year.

Web shopping is entering a new phase, says IMRG managing director Jo Evans.

‘Thanks to the internet, shoppers are getting used to thinking about, finding and buying goods and services in new ways,’ she said. ‘They no longer need to plan their lives around when the shops are open.

‘Consumers would also rather listen to other shoppers’ opinions of what goods are like than rely on marketing spiel.’

Sales of electrical goods were particularly strong in June, always a popular month for electronics as people prepare for summer holidays. The figures are up 92 per cent on last year.