June online sales up 20 per cent

Online sales in June reached £4.4bn, according to the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index

Online sales are up by 20 per cent in June 2010, compared with last year

UK online sales for June 2010 reached £4.4bn, a 20 per cent increase on June 2009, according to the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index.

In addition, £26.2bn has been spent online in the UK in first half of 2010. This is up 15 per cent on the same period in 2009.

IMRG and Capgemini claim the sales were the result of a combination of warm weather and a busy sporting calendar. For the second consecutive month, year-on-year growth has been above 20 per cent, the highest rate since June 2008.

Online sales of electrical goods rose by 26 per cent compared with the same period last year and sales of clothes also saw a considerable year-on-year increase of 22 per cent. Within this category, it was the level of accessories bought online that saw the most significant jump, with an increase of 73 per cent from the same month last year.

The report also highlighted that June was a particularly strong month for multi-channel retailers, enjoying a year-on-year growth of 27 per cent, which suggests high street retailers are recognising the overwhelming benefits of a strong online offering.