Online retail continues to shine

But web spending declined from January to February as a consequence of generally tough trading conditions

Consumers will still turn to the web for shopping to ensure value for money

The continued growth of web shopping despite the recession has been confirmed once again as sales via the internet during February increased by 13 per cent on 2008 figures.

According to the latest IMRG Capgemini e-retail sales index, sales of beer, wine and spirits had a monthly increase of 30 per cent and gift buying was also up by 34 per cent due to Valentine’s Day.

But online promotions in January, the overall challenging retail climate and fewer trading days, led to a drop in online spending in February compared with January, with a monthly fall of 11 per cent.

“These results show that the strong post-Christmas sales push and a toughening retail market have indeed led to a drop in spending from January to February,” said head of consulting for retail at Capgemini UK, Mike Petevinos.

“However, year-on-year growth for e-retail continues in stark contrast to the high street. Consumers are still turning to the internet to make their purchase decisions and ensure their disposable income goes further.”